Western Railroad Discussion > Derailment - Portland Oregon

Hearing reports of a major derailment below Interstate Av on the east side of downtown Portland - between the Steel Bridge and (UP) Albina Yard.

First reports are 20 to 30 cars derailed, ,3 on their side, at least 1 a tanker.

Emergency crews assessing hazards.


Nickatnight



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/18 16:28 by nickatnight.

Well there goes the neighborhood.

https://mobile.twitter.com/KATUNews/status/975520398304452608

Was just around that area from the yard to the bridge and did see a derailment and trains were running.
Will go and check it out in a few.
Dennis

Posted from iPhone

KGW TV in Portland currently has a live stream from the derailment site. You can see 6 cars on their sides. 3 empty centerbeams, 2 boxcars, and tank car. The tank car is white with a brown stripe in the middle of car. Does that denote a specific commodity? I would not be surprised if Rick Franklin Corp is on the way for the clean up. It doesn't look too difficult.

A video a friend sent.




Also I am told the tanker is an empty diesel tanker.

Nickatnight

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Those are very sharp curves coming off the bridge and continuing around that grain elevator. Wouldn't be surprised if it turns out to be a UDE induced string-line derailment.

Railbaron Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Those are very sharp curves coming off the bridge
> and continuing around that grain elevator.
> Wouldn't be surprised if it turns out to be a UDE
> induced string-line derailment.

You are right, but it would be the opposite of a stringline, the cars were push outside of the curve. Would make sense that a UDE would cause that.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

funnelfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Railbaron Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Those are very sharp curves coming off the
> bridge
> > and continuing around that grain elevator.
> > Wouldn't be surprised if it turns out to be a
> UDE
> > induced string-line derailment.
>
> You are right, but it would be the opposite of a
> stringline, the cars were push outside of the
> curve. Would make sense that a UDE would cause
> that.


Maybe I'm wrong but above the covered hoppers at the grain facility it appears the cars are pulled inward on the curve. I didn't look at the Twitter post so maybe it shows something different.

Edit: Right where the tank car is is where the transition is from left hand to right hand curve - hard to say what happened.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/18 18:40 by Railbaron.

shay2305 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> KGW TV in Portland currently has a live stream
> from the derailment site. You can see 6 cars on
> their sides. 3 empty centerbeams, 2 boxcars, and
> tank car.

Empty centerbeams? On a curve? Say it ain't so!

Slack run-in.

Stringlined the cars on a S curve with empty lumber cars.
Engines were on the steel bridge. Power and the first part of the train is now
parked on track 5 (main) at Portland Union station.
Yes this just happen after I went by early.
Dennis

Posted from iPhone

Did not see any track damage.
Dennis

Posted from iPhone

The S curve where the derailment occurred has a 6 mph speed limit, if I recall correctly. Considered the sharpest mainline curve in the U.S.

The curve onto the Steel Bridge is tighter, I’ve never heard what the speed limit is. Does anyone know? I think they generally go slower than 6 mph. Next time I’m down there I’ll see if there are speed limit signs.

Glad nobody was hurt.

Ted in MN

Posted from iPhone

Better to pull around such a curve than to shove?

-John

gobbl3gook Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The S curve where the derailment occurred has a 6
> mph speed limit, if I recall correctly.
> Considered the sharpest mainline curve in the
> U.S.
>
> The curve onto the Steel Bridge is tighter, I’ve
> never heard what the speed limit is. Does anyone
> know? I think they generally go slower than 6
> mph. Next time I’m down there I’ll see if
> there are speed limit signs.
>
> Glad nobody was hurt.
>
> Ted in MN
>
> Posted from iPhone

6 mph. As is the bridge itself.

shay2305 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The tank car is white with a brown
> stripe in the middle of car. Does that denote a
> specific commodity?

Usually a chemical car. I've seen acids in those striped tanks but never Diesel or Petro-distillates. Now a solid white tank yes but not saying it's impossible.

Posted from Android

on another train picture website is a closer look at the derailed white/brown tank car. I dont see a placard in the holder, just taking a guess but I would say this car was not hauling Hazmat.
JC

Ted,
What's a UDE?

whitefish Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ted,
> What's a UDE?

Un-Desired Emergency application of the trains air brakes. Something other then the crew members triggerd the application.
JC

Posted from Android