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Re: Recent derailments - speculation as to cause
Author: Craig Tambo
Date: 12-02-2013 - 12:52
I tend to agree with SP5103. While I'm not familiar with the area or the track gradient, I have a Southwestern RR employee timetable in my collection (from 1999--probably outdated)which shows a speed limit of 20mph from Whitewater to MP 12 (Bayard is 12.9) and 10mph from MP 12 to Santa Rita. The Fierro Industrial Spur is also 10mph.
At that speed, it would seem unlikely that an engine that rolled on its side would be that far from the track. The top photo from the newspaper article shows debris in the foreground, and the ground looks gouged as if the engine had left the track and slid into the gully from a point behind the photographer. It would be very enlightening to see what the track and ground looked like behind where the photo was taken, and if there was a right-hand curve at that point.The points noted above, and the way the cars derailed a bit farther on, suggest to me that excessive speed was involved. The Feds will tell us soon enough.
At that speed, it would seem unlikely that an engine that rolled on its side would be that far from the track. The top photo from the newspaper article shows debris in the foreground, and the ground looks gouged as if the engine had left the track and slid into the gully from a point behind the photographer. It would be very enlightening to see what the track and ground looked like behind where the photo was taken, and if there was a right-hand curve at that point.The points noted above, and the way the cars derailed a bit farther on, suggest to me that excessive speed was involved. The Feds will tell us soon enough.
