Western Railroad Discussion > BNSF Train Derailment at Laura Illinois on transcon

Straight line winds took The Willow-Springs to Amarillo TX. intermodal train off the tracks at Laura Illinois today. Looks to be as many as 4 to 5 well cars sets that were blown from south to north. Quite a mess to say the least

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If it would have been an hour later, I was scheduled to test from Yost to West Chillicothe tonight, M2, I would have been in the middle of that. I walked the site, the first 3 well cars behind the engine had the containers lifted straight up and out of them, and tossed aside, the 3 cars stayed upright. I didn't have my camera with me this trip, but got some I-Phone pics from the track POV if you want to see them.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/28/14 19:24 by catskinner63.

Once again, sorry for the poor quality, I left my Cannon at home this trip. POV is facing West on Main 2

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It's going to be a long night

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great additional pictures! Thank You

Pretty gnarly! Thanks for the coverage.

First detour eastbound intermodal left Galesburg on the Mendota at 11 PM. Expect many more

Going to Alliance, TX, not Amarillo.

Just got word from the site, it will be this afternoon before Main 2 would be open. They think 40 panels might get both mains open.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/29/14 04:42 by catskinner63.

Was this train moving? If so, why does the railroad let trains proceed when there is tornadic like weather in the area? How much difference does 30 minutes make? Thx.

The train just got a high wind warning and was slowing when it happened.

I'm not sure it would make a difference whether the train was moving--if it was in the wind area standing still the cars still would have blown over (I guess the wreck would have been a little more organized, if that's the term).

I heard that trains were also being detoured over UP across Iowa (KC-Des Moines-Iowa Jct.-Provo Jct.-IHB-McCook?).

Carl Shaver
Lombard, IL

any chance that it goes thru Amarillo?

Were those empty containers? Doesn't seem like there's any product spilling out of them.

If they are empties it boggles the mind they would move double stacked empty boxes in yesterday's weather conditions.

Scott

Oh no, full, I just didn't take pics of what spilled, mostly household goods

Scary stuff. Glad the crew was OK.

Posted from iPhone

Now with tornadic weather conditions like that, do they have to have an investigation on the crew or not???

Curious as to if this would count against them or are they just know 'weather' did this..????


SP8100

Railfan2 Wrote:
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> any chance that it goes thru Amarillo?

No

HoggerMatt Wrote:
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> Railfan2 Wrote:
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> > any chance that it goes thru Amarillo?
>
> No
Takes the Arkansas City and Red Rock Subs to move toward Alliance.

WOOOOW...!!! Interesting pics!!! Thanks for sharing.