Nostalgia & History > Coast and Western Div. Derailments 1981-82

That thread was getting way too long to respond too, so here's what MDO was asking about.

The Surf derailment was on May 22, 1981. It happened in the early hours.

Tunnel 11 was the OALAT and it derailed 9 cars on December 12, 1981

BALAT derailed at San Lucas on Feb 19, 1982

Medfly #17 derailed at Chorro on March 12, 1982

Remember the derailment of Number Six at San Pablo, Mike on January 4, 1982? Very heavy rains in the Bay Area washed out a culvert before Six passed and most of the train derailed. You were on TV, Mike on that one. You took a KTVU camera and reporter to the scene in your hirailer. The two minute story was the camera focused on you while you were driving, giving details of the derailment and when the tracks will be opened.... your fifteen minutes of fame!

I have tons of NWP derailments in 1982-83, too many to list.

WF: Thanks for the derailment listing. I honestly don't remember the other derailments besides Surf. Main reason was I didn't spend alot of time around SLO after Sept. 1981 account new girlfriend in Lompoc and the jerk PO who starting working in SLO (he didn't like us "student types").

Allen

Mike to hear Mike's version of this story.

AM

bradleymckay Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Mike to hear Mike's version of this story.
>
> AM
>
OK, here are the Mad Dag Chronicles to come:

1. The rest of my time as Assistant Supt on the Western Division.

2. World War III in Houston.

3. Superintendent of the Western Division and VP and GM of NWP 1980 to 1983
(most of these derailments were during this period)

4. My year as NRPC Officer and the 1983 Contract revision with Amtrak.

5. AVP Intermodal Operations for SP and the failure of the ATSF/SP merger.

WAF Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That thread was getting way too long to respond
> too, so here's what MDO was asking about.
>
> The Surf derailment was on May 22, 1981. It
> happened in the early hours.
>
> Tunnel 11 was the OALAT and it derailed 9 cars on
> December 12, 1981
>
> BALAT derailed at San Lucas on Feb 19, 1982
>
> Medfly #17 derailed at Chorro on March 12, 1982
>
> Remember the derailment of Number Six at San
> Pablo, Mike on January 4, 1982? Very heavy rains
> in the Bay Area washed out a culvert before Six
> passed and most of the train derailed. You were on
> TV, Mike on that one. You took a KTVU camera and
> reporter to the scene in your hirailer. The two
> minute story was the camera focused on you while
> you were driving, giving details of the derailment
> and when the tracks will be opened.... your
> fifteen minutes of fame!
>
> I have tons of NWP derailments in 1982-83, too
> many to list.
>
>


The derailment at Surf belonged to Mr. Mohan as that was on the LA Division. All of the rest of them were mine. Lots of material here. I even have a few pictures. That thread about Santa Margarita in july of 1979 really suprised me.

Hill was operating from the east end of that helper set. He did not think that the East man was as close to Hwy 58 as it was. Impact was at about 10 mph. Bent the frame on the 4321. I don't think that it was ever repaired. Hill did finally go to emergency as evidenced by the pile of sand unter the 4321.

mdo

The derailment west of Chorro was a tranverse fissure in the land side rail. It is almost impossible to detect. LD No. 2 was the Hoghead.

I could have sworn DC was cut in to the train at Margarita. Maybe he cut off with the rear behind him and was following the head end down to the x-overs. Must have been anothe "DC" moment.

Nudge

DC= Disconnected... Nudge DC holds the record for going around Burbank Jct. at 62 mph