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Re: 501 crash info.
Author: ex-BN
Date: 12-22-2017 - 22:45
Max Smart Wrote:
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> 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.
Regarding concrete vs. wood ties, SI equals heavy freight and gauge problems in curves. With light passenger traffic I don't see the same issue on this line. Apples and oranges.
-------------------------------------------------------
> 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.
Regarding concrete vs. wood ties, SI equals heavy freight and gauge problems in curves. With light passenger traffic I don't see the same issue on this line. Apples and oranges.
