International Railroad Discussion > Mudslide derails Vale ore train (Brazil)

Thirty broad gauge ore cars from Vale mining Carajás railroad (EFC) derailed after a mudslide hit the train in the new S11D branch, in Paraopebas, PA Brazil on Monday 9.
According to Vale, the cars were empty and the detail did not affect the passenger train since it happened in branch not served by passenge service.
The engineer suffered slight excoriations, was taken to the hospital of the city and passes well. Vale's teams are involved in evaluating the recovery of the railway line. As causes of exclusion are being determined by the company.
As we perceive by the photos, the leading unit hit the mudslide and the cars were pilled up over it by the DUP's.

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,

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Another picture.

Pedro

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,
https://youtube.com/c/minasgeraisrailways1

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Very interesting! Thanks.

How fast was this train moving to pile up the cars like this?

Not a slow speed derailment!

Mike

Vale broad gauge speed is normally 80 km/h (49,7 mile/h). The problem are the remote units that continue to push the cars for some seconds before the system perceive that the lead unit was derailed. It wasn't the first accident where the DPU's pile up cars over other locomotives in reason of derailment in the front section.

Posted from Android

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,
https://youtube.com/c/minasgeraisrailways1



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/10/18 13:11 by pedrop.

The locomotive seen below the ore cars is an GE ES58ACi

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,
https://youtube.com/c/minasgeraisrailways1

pedrop Wrote:
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> The locomotive seen below the ore cars is an GE
> ES58ACi


Looks like frame damage :(

In picture # 2 I see a car with a number apparently cast into the metal side of the car. Is that the car number? If so are all gondolas done the same way with the individual car number?

Yes sir, all gondolas have its own road number. It is way to control their maintenance and also to where are they in the system.


tomstp Wrote:
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> In picture # 2 I see a car with a number
> apparently cast into the metal side of the car.
> Is that the car number? If so are all gondolas
> done the same way with the individual car number?

Posted from Android

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,
https://youtube.com/c/minasgeraisrailways1

From the appearance of photo #1, this deep cut was designed by people who anticipated landslides. Have there been landslides here previously?

Hi, I agree with you: that is a very long and deep cut that shoud be wider than it is. It is new track opened in 2017 to serve the new Vale S11D project. It is the first time it receive big storms and started to melt as we can see.

Pedro

march_hare Wrote:
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> From the appearance of photo #1, this deep cut was
> designed by people who anticipated landslides.
> Have there been landslides here previously?

Posted from Android

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,
https://youtube.com/c/minasgeraisrailways1

Making the width of the cut at least "one blade" (the width of the working blade of a bulldozer or end loader) wider than the track gives some margin for maintenance and lets smaller slides fall down without blocking the track.
Of course that extra width has to be carried up to the top of the cut which increases the volume of material moved. Another "Pay me now or pay me later" design/investment decision.