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Re: 501 crash info.
Author: Max Smart
Date: 12-22-2017 - 22:27
I've been wondering about that curve since this all happened. Photos, to me, indicate that there is quite a bit of right of way to work with to have at least increased the speed some.
Having a tight curve at the end of a long fast stretch has a lot of screw up potential. I also recall the earlier discussion about a 68 mph speed restriction rather than 70 or 65 as railroads usually seem to do and I thought at the time that it was an indication that WSDOT was pushing things to the limit. I've also noticed that the tight curve had wood ties rather than concrete ties--this after UP spent all summer on the S.I. putting concrete ties in curves to better hold gauge. Based on that example, I would think this curve would be a logical choice for concrete. I've been impressed by the lack of track damage this crash caused --- would have expected the outside rail to have rolled over.
Having a tight curve at the end of a long fast stretch has a lot of screw up potential. I also recall the earlier discussion about a 68 mph speed restriction rather than 70 or 65 as railroads usually seem to do and I thought at the time that it was an indication that WSDOT was pushing things to the limit. I've also noticed that the tight curve had wood ties rather than concrete ties--this after UP spent all summer on the S.I. putting concrete ties in curves to better hold gauge. Based on that example, I would think this curve would be a logical choice for concrete. I've been impressed by the lack of track damage this crash caused --- would have expected the outside rail to have rolled over.
