Western Railroad Discussion > RR crew took a direct hit with a Tornado in NE today (video link)

https://twitter.com/shittyeditsarc/status/1784034488562962441?t=yi3iaSeiLu_XeGOzTjD1ug

I hope linking this is ok. And heads up, obvious bit of a language warning with the $#!+ bombs...

Westbound BNSF crew a few miles east of Lincoln, NE on Friday, April 26, 2024.

Mr. MRL ~ work safe...



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/24 23:28 by MrMRL.

Thanks for the link.  Incredible !  The best tornado video I have ever seen!

What an in your face scarry tornado video. Glad the crew was not hurt. I think I probably would have used some F-bombs in that situation.

Larry

WOW!  That sure is some incredible video.  Glad the crew made it through okay.  I'm surprised more glass didn't get busted out.  Thanks for sharing this Robby.

Kent in CArmel Valley

There are (reasons) modern locomotive cabs come with double-paned "bulletproof/safety" glass windows... That 3/8-1/2" steel framed cab also helps out.

Honestly, (and I've never, and have no future desire, to personally experience a tornado strike in a locomotive)... But as long as you're not barreling head-on into one at 50mph... A 200+ ton locomotive (cab) is a pretty safe place to be with a twister across the tracks from you.

~ Mr. MRL

i saw a train of empties blow over except the power

Yeah that tornado ended up flattening hundreds of houses here in Omaha. Then hit part of the airport yesterday.

Tom Loftus
Omaha, NE

Not my images (though I'd love to give proper credit). BNSF SD70ACe 9084 W near Lincoln, NE on Friday April 26, 2024 after a near direct hit with a EF-1 to EF-2(?) tornado. Credit honestly/probably goes to the crew on the train. Amen brothers for riding out the storm!

~ Mr. MRL



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/24 23:17 by MrMRL.

---

---

---

Crayyyyzzzzeeeeeee

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

---

---

Glass probably blew OUT rather than in.  Growing up in tornado alley, we always kept a window open when a tornado went by, other wise the extreme low pressure in the tornado would blow windows out of the house.   I mean you never think about it if you have not been through one, and so I suspect that it did not occur to the crew.  Had they opened a window on the other side of the cab, probably nothing would have broken.  Notice that it did not break out all of the windows, only one, which relieved the pressure differential.

funnelfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Crayyyyzzzzeeeeeee

Yes, very accurate response...

JG

Went through a tornado on a C40-9 the standard cab verity .   Hail started and we couldn't see past the nose grab irons so i backed out of the throttle and let the train coast. Moment later the hail and rain was gone i snatched the window open and looked to the sky to see rotation. We knew there was tornado's all around that day as we had a hand held on the weather station. 

Nebraska and Iowa reportedly had a mere 57 tornadoes yesterday (Friday)!

elueck Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Glass probably blew OUT rather than in.  Growing
> up in tornado alley, we always kept a window open
> when a tornado went by, other wise the extreme low
> pressure in the tornado would blow windows out of
> the house.   I mean you never think about it if
> you have not been through one, and so I suspect
> that it did not occur to the crew.  Had they
> opened a window on the other side of the cab,
> probably nothing would have broken.  Notice that
> it did not break out all of the windows, only one,
> which relieved the pressure differential.

i think it was debris

If it wasn't for the tornadoes in the summer and the bitterly cold wind and snow in the winter, living in the Midwest wouldn't be so bad.

Sure glad the crew is OK.

irhoghead Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If it wasn't for the tornadoes in the summer and
> the bitterly cold wind and snow in the winter,
> living in the Midwest wouldn't be so bad.
>

That's what I thought when I moved from Chicago to Bakersfield. I over-corrected.

TAW

irhoghead Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If it wasn't for the tornadoes in the summer and
> the bitterly cold wind and snow in the winter,
> living in the Midwest wouldn't be so bad.
>
> Sure glad the crew is OK.

Don't forget the 100 degree summers and high humidity. 

irhoghead Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If it wasn't for the tornadoes in the summer and
> the bitterly cold wind and snow in the winter,
> living in the Midwest wouldn't be so bad.
>
> Sure glad the crew is OK.

When the Air Force had me at Offutt AFB near Omaha for six years I figured out something.
Any place that requires a humidifier in the winter and a dehumidifier in the summer was probably not meant for human habitation!

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> irhoghead Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > If it wasn't for the tornadoes in the summer
> and
> > the bitterly cold wind and snow in the winter,
> > living in the Midwest wouldn't be so bad.
> >
> > Sure glad the crew is OK.
>
> When the Air Force had me at Offutt AFB near Omaha
> for six years I figured out something.
> Any place that requires a humidifier in the winter
> and a dehumidifier in the summer was probably not
> meant for human habitation!
Considerable damage to private hangar section out at Eppley airport by all reports.
Regards,DK

elueck Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Glass probably blew OUT rather than in.  Growing
> up in tornado alley, we always kept a window open
> when a tornado went by, other wise the extreme low
> pressure in the tornado would blow windows out of
> the house.   I mean you never think about it if
> you have not been through one, and so I suspect
> that it did not occur to the crew.  Had they
> opened a window on the other side of the cab,
> probably nothing would have broken.  Notice that
> it did not break out all of the windows, only one,
> which relieved the pressure differential.

Super interesting, had no idea about that, but it makes perfect sense now.  I was wondering why only one window broke when my wife showed me the video.  Abosulely crazy!  

I did laugh at the video I saw, the caption said they were in a caboose.  Uh, no!  My wife just gave me that look when I chuckled about them being a caboose.  I'm very glad they are ok, that had to be scary as all get out.

Nathan