Eastern Railroad Discussion > Derailment off KB&S bridge, Lafayette IN, 9/21

Details posted to at least one Facebook group suggest NS was shoving a cut of loaded gondolas onto the bridge from the east end connection.  Four cars appear to be in the Wabash River:

https://www.wlfi.com/news/train-derails-over-wabash-near-downtown-lafayette/article_e87fcf3c-39f4-11ed-a341-7740fc67b6cb.html
https://www.wlfi.com/news/photo-gallery-train-derails-over-wabash-in-downtown-lafayette/article_8aea24fe-39f3-11ed-a382-cba043dd474a.html



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/21/22 15:19 by atsf616.

Isn't that the former New York Central - Nickel Plate bridge?

Yes


Jimbo Wrote:
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> Isn't that the former New York Central - Nickel Plate bridge?

It’s all the same now, but my understanding was that line was ex-CCC&StL (Big Four RR). I realize they became part of NYC, but I’m just trying to get my history right for my sake as well. I railfanned that area heavily in my college days.

Thanks for any clarification
Sean

Posted from iPhone

From Altamont on the south side of Lafayette to Templeton out west of West Lafayette, it was shared Big 4/LE&W trackage.

Seen from the east end, here's what the bridge looked like before the accident.
The news story contains a minor errror.  The bridge and track are in fact owned by NS.  KBS ownership begins about 100 yards to the west.

Altho NYC and NKP (LE&W) shared the tracks between Altamont and Templeton, they were owned by NKP.  However, NYC used them much more heavily.
 



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 09/21/22 19:49 by calumet.

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Me too. Purdue class of 1966. Rode the train many times between Kankakee and West Lafayette

I'm not sure of the actual ownership limits, but I have heard at least somewhere west of the bridge (maybe Altamont?) NKP owned one of the tracks and NYC the other, but the tracks were operated as double track 251 ABS direction of movement.  I don't know who dispatched it, but I'll ask a former N&W Road Foreman of Engines who had that territory.  This would be similar to Lima, Ohio, between the former Pennsylvania and the former Erie where NKP/N&W owned one of the tracks and B&O the other but it was dispatched by the B&O.

Jim

Here is another news account of the derailment.
It ha live footage as well as several photos of the bridge.
Tha6t bridge is all torn up!!

That is a VERY tight curve going around the corner from the east and onto the bridge. I stood right down there a couple of years ago while the KB&S was pushing some covered hoppers across the river and the wheel sqeal was deafening.

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James Whitcomb Riley and Floridian in 1971.

What is the track speed at that location?

Looks like at one time it was double tracked!

Roadbed Wrote:
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> What is the track speed at that location?

Basically walking speed.  The track only continues on the east side of the bridge for about 2500 feet, and then ties into the NS and CSX main lines through Lafayette.  That stretch is used as a siding for interchange between the railroads.

Jimbo Wrote:
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> I'm not sure of the actual ownership limits, but I
> have heard at least somewhere west of the bridge
> (maybe Altamont?) NKP owned one of the tracks and
> NYC the other, but the tracks were operated as
> double track 251 ABS direction of movement.  I
> don't know who dispatched it, but I'll ask a
> former N&W Road Foreman of Engines who had that
> territory.  .

It's not a big deal, but Altamont is in Lafayette, hence east of the bridge.

I have heard this NKP-NYC separate-track ownership stuff before but I don't think it's correct.  For one thing NKP diapatched the tracks between Templeton and Altamont.  For another, bridges carrying the railroad over a creek, etc. were painted "Nickel Plate Road."  For another, the signals were typical of NKP lines.  

But the main reason is the Big 4 map at the link below.  Enlarge it and you find a gap between Lafayette (Altamont) and a point to the northwest (not labelled but it's Templeton).  The reason for the gap is simple, the Big 4 did not own the tracks in that area.  

Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway - Wikipedia

 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/22/22 18:57 by calumet.

From the video in the first link, it looks like the pier shifted.

Posted from iPhone