Eastern Railroad Discussion > GTW - Derailment Train #811, Lapeer, MI March 27 1985

Derailment of Train #811 GTW 5924 GTW 5810 West, between South Court Street - MP 289.94 and Bentley Street - MP 289.65 GTW-CN Flint Subdivision, Lapeer, Michigan, Wednesday, March 27, 1985, at about at 4:30 AM.

The Photographs and other information shown here are from James Quinten "JQ" Anders. Retired GTW Assistant Chief Engineer. Mr. Anders passed away on March 14, 2017.

Ron

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Derailment of Train #811 GTW 5924 GTW 5810 West, Lapeer, Michigan, Wednesday, March 27, 1985.

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Ron



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/09/25 14:26 by Ron.

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Derailment of Train #811 GTW 5924 GTW 5810 West, Lapeer, Michigan, Wednesday, March 27, 1985

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Ron



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/09/25 14:27 by Ron.

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Derailment of Train #811 GTW 5924 GTW 5810 West, Lapeer, Michigan, Wednesday, March 27, 1985

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Ron

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Derailment of Train #811 GTW 5924 GTW 5810 West, Lapeer, Michigan, Wednesday, March 27, 1985

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Ron



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/09/25 14:32 by Ron.

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Derailment of Train #811 GTW 5924 GTW 5810 West, Lapeer, Michigan, Wednesday, March 27, 1985

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Ron

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Derailment of Train #811 GTW 5924 GTW 5810 West, Lapeer, Michigan, Wednesday, March 27, 1985

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Ron

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Ron

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Ron

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Ron

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Ron

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I like how the photo of the scale test car has the warning "Place next to van" on it.   Clearly that was not read and/or understood given the car being placed mid-train leading to the accident per the cause referenced in the report.   I read the report to indicate that the scale test car (car 21 in the consist) separated from another car (car 23 in the consist if the number given matches up with the car order on the page listing damages) so I'm not sure how car 21 separates from car 23 without any reference to what car 22 was doing.   There is also reference to speed contributing to the cause so I wonder if the crew simply had no experience/appreciation for the complications a scale test car adds to a train consist?   



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/09/25 15:55 by Milwaukee.

These GTW accident reports are extremely interesting as are the photos, so many thanks for posting.
I have never previously seen a scale test car on the ground, so it was a real shock when I got to that photo.

What is all of the stuff under the tarp on the left in photo 18?

Posted from iPhone

Doug Wetherhold
Macungie, PA

I'm gonna take a guess that it's blocks/wedges of wood, cribbing material. A necessity on the wreck train and still used today. I believe they are pieces of oak.

Thanks for posting the pictures:-)

Posted from Android

Milwaukee Wrote:
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> I read the report to indicate that the scale test car (car 21 in the consist) separated from another car (car 23 in the consist if the number given matches up with the car order
> on the page listing damages) so I'm not sure how car 21 separates from car 23 without any reference to what car 22 was doing.

I think that that was probably just a mistake by who-ever was writing that report.

> There is also reference to speed contributing to the cause so I wonder if the crew simply had no experience/appreciation for the complications a scale test car adds to a train consist?

This wreck was one for the record books. 
The Train Crew didn't know that that scale test car was in the train.
And, the crew that put the train together in Port Huron did a oops.....
The Car Department, Carman, coupled the train in the yard after it was "set" by the Yard Crew, and a Carman gave the Train an Air Test.
When the train left there should have been someone, Carman, Yard Crew, Yardmaster, watch it as it left.
Also, the Train passed an Eastbound before it reached Lapeer.

Scale Test Cars were to be handled next ahead of the Caboose, and they were speed restricted.
The Carman that coupled up the track(s) should have asked someone if they knew that that scale test car was not where it should have been.
When the train left someone should have noticed where that scale test car was, or where it should not have been.
The Crew on the Eastbound Train they met should have noticed where that test car was too.

I think the Big Whigs set up investigations and basically invited everybody who was on duty during the time the train was set and departed. And I seem to recall that they had that all
screwed up and nobody was found to be responsible.

Ron

I don't know about this particular scale test car, but many of them didn't have air brakes because the RR wanted the weight of the car to remain constant. Just a pass-through pipe and a hand brake. I've seen different speed restrictions in the ETTs of various RRs but the most common figures are 25 and 30 mph.