Eastern Railroad Discussion > NS autorack derailment in Attica NY

http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/bdn01/updating-train-derailment-in-attica-20180215



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/18 14:54 by elu34ch.

NS, Attica NY, unknown train symbol or which direction (appears to possibly be an auto unit train). Media reports injuries. Lead unit, NS 9692 was on fire.

Images & more reporting:

http://www.rochesterfirst.com/news/local-news/rescue-crews-respond-to-train-derailment-in-wyoming-co/975839803

http://www.whec.com/news/train-derails-near-attica/4790511/?cat=565

Symbol was 28N per a Facebook group I follow

Posted from Android

Happy to see that the crew should be Ok, albeit with some injuries that may keep them out for a while.

Early unconfirmed reports suggest a culvert under the tracks was overflowing, resulting in a washout...

Posted from Android

That will be an expensive derailment... In past loaded autorack derailments every automobile on the train has had to be scrapped, even the undamaged ones in the non-derailed racks. Auto manufacturers don't want possible future lawsuits over vehicles that happened to be in such a derailment.

As of 0400, NS appears to be detouring trains 309 & 23K currently heading east on the Southern Tier at Binghamton south on the Sunbury line to Harrisburg and then west.

Posted from iPhone

Made the CBS national morning news. Polluting a local river with spilled fuel.

In the scheme of recent news it is another example of railroad problems.

Posted from Android

What river ?

Posted from iPhone



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/16/18 05:08 by biff.

it's a small creek that feeds Tonawanda Creek.

CSX602 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That will be an expensive derailment... In past
> loaded autorack derailments every automobile on
> the train has had to be scrapped, even the
> undamaged ones in the non-derailed racks. Auto
> manufacturers don't want possible future lawsuits
> over vehicles that happened to be in such a
> derailment.

Vehicles in non derailed cars are not scrapped. Having been through a couple auto train derailments, your statement is misleading. Vehicles in the auto racks that did not derail experience no more damage than any other emergency brake application.
I’ve even seen autoracks derail that remain upright, rerailed and delivered to the customer.

Posted from iPhone

Off-pending... Interesting. A derailment of new BMWs from the SC plant a few years back resulted in every car in train being scrapped. BMW wouldn't even let their employees buy them. I heard similar info on Fords involved in a derailed train about a decade ago.

CSX602 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Off-pending... Interesting. A derailment of new
> BMWs from the SC plant a few years back resulted
> in every car in train being scrapped. BMW
> wouldn't even let their employees buy them. I
> heard similar info on Fords involved in a derailed
> train about a decade ago.


No automaker is going to allow anyone to register a car that has been on an autorack that was in a serious derailment, regardless of the condition of the car. Chrysler used to donate these cars to the SUNY (State University of New York) auto tech programs.

That having been said, any racks have not been involved in a serious accident (including the 19 or so from Attica that did not crash) will not be scrapped. If they were, delivery cost would be much higher than $800-900.

Posted from Android

As of 8:00AM Saturday, two stone trains are nearing Binghamton on the NS Sunbury line headed for Attica. The first train, symbol 920 led by NS6732, I believe is comprised of 5 cars with a conveyor. Have no description of following stone train.

NYSWSD70M Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> CSX602 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Off-pending... Interesting. A derailment of
> new
> > BMWs from the SC plant a few years back
> resulted
> > in every car in train being scrapped. BMW
> > wouldn't even let their employees buy them. I
> > heard similar info on Fords involved in a
> derailed
> > train about a decade ago.
>
>
> No automaker is going to allow anyone to register
> a car that has been on an autorack that was in a
> serious derailment, regardless of the condition of
> the car. Chrysler used to donate these cars to
> the SUNY (State University of New York) auto tech
> programs.
>
> That having been said, any racks have not been
> involved in a serious accident (including the 19
> or so from Attica that did not crash) will not be
> scrapped. If they were, delivery cost would be
> much higher than $800-900.
>
> Posted from Android

Agreed. This is a rumor that runs wild throughout the railfan world. Loaded autoracks derail all the time, only in the worst derailments are the vehicles scrapped.

My guess is that NS 9692 and 9274 will be scrapped

Posted from Android

JPB Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> As of 8:00AM Saturday, two stone trains are
> nearing Binghamton on the NS Sunbury line headed
> for Attica. The first train, symbol 920 led by
> NS6732, I believe is comprised of 5 cars with a
> conveyor. Have no description of following stone
> train.

Yesterday I saw a long ballast train symbol 921 with both regular ballast cars and side dump cars headed up the Buffalo line. It was led by GP40-2's 3030 & 3001.

Posted from Android

The truth is, the situation is a bit more complicated than people realize. Having been personally involved in the cleanup of a few multi-level derailments I feel a bit "Qualified" to comment on the subject matter.

First and foremost. If the car is still on the rail, and the car/truck inside didn't jump the chocks or break the straps. They are NOT getting scrapped, ever. Doesn't matter what happened to the rest of the train. I normally don't like speaking in absolutes like this as there always seems to be an exception, but I have simply never seen this happen.

Second, a derailed car is not always a death sentence for the load inside. Sometimes it is, but many times its not. Contrary to popular belief there is no law on the books anywhere that deals with this matter.

As for derailed cars, this matter is sorted out between the carrier, manufacture and any insurance involved. The railroads generally self-insured but its not terribly unusual for a manufacture to have an additional policy on the shipment.

Generally speaking if its a minor derailment and the load didn't break free, the cars are inspected and sold. However I've been told this wasn't always the case in years past.

When it comes to derailments where the load inside gets damaged I've seen a handful of routes get taken. Yeah sometimes the cars will get written off and crushed on site even though they have minor damage. Other times they go for part out, sometimes (rarely) repair. And of course, sometimes damaged cars will get "donated" to various educational establishments with a no-resale clause. The vocational school I went too had a handful of late 90s GM one-tons donated to us by Conrail that were involved in a derailment. A pair were repaired titled/plated and could be driven on public roads, but could not be resold once the school was done with them.

In my experience the two big things that decide what happens to the load revolve around two key things. Is and did the car stay upright though the whole event, and did the load not break free. If those two points are yes, then the cars inside are generally going to continue their trip to the dealer lot.

It should also be noted that there are non-derailment events that can dictate what happens to the cars inside the rack. Its a big deal if they discover a car jumped a chock inside. (Hard ties on multi-levels are not a good idea)


glendale Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> NYSWSD70M Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > CSX602 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Off-pending... Interesting. A derailment of
> > new
> > > BMWs from the SC plant a few years back
> > resulted
> > > in every car in train being scrapped. BMW
> > > wouldn't even let their employees buy them.
> I
> > > heard similar info on Fords involved in a
> > derailed
> > > train about a decade ago.
> >
> >
> > No automaker is going to allow anyone to
> register
> > a car that has been on an autorack that was in
> a
> > serious derailment, regardless of the condition
> of
> > the car. Chrysler used to donate these cars to
> > the SUNY (State University of New York) auto
> tech
> > programs.
> >
> > That having been said, any racks have not been
> > involved in a serious accident (including the
> 19
> > or so from Attica that did not crash) will not
> be
> > scrapped. If they were, delivery cost would be
> > much higher than $800-900.
> >
> > Posted from Android
>
> Agreed. This is a rumor that runs wild throughout
> the railfan world. Loaded autoracks derail all the
> time, only in the worst derailments are the
> vehicles scrapped.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/17/18 10:43 by Foamductor.

As of Saturday afternoon, a couple dozen dump trucks were hauling fill to the derailment site. East Main Street Road, the crossing closest to the derailment, is closed but busy w NS equipment coming and going. About 5pm, NS 920 arrived at CP Linden, just east of the work site. Train had CN 3009 leader, 1 automated conveyer car with 15 linked cars, 6 side dump w rip rap size rock, 5 bottom dump ballast cars, NS 6732.

As of Sunday 6am, while making this post, sounds like derailment site is open. 23K was heading west from Binghamton and the D&H dispatch reported 22K was clear CP Linden and 310 was close behind.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/18/18 04:44 by ErieFan.