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Re: CN (xDMIR) Two Harbors runaway and Orinoco brake system
Author: Shortline Sammie
Date: 12-30-2013 - 13:29
SP5103 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Shortline Sammie Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Your in depth investigation and discussion of
> > these events is extremely interesting and
> somewhat
> > understandable to a "flatland railroader".
>
> I've seen the grade next to your shop - hardly
> flat land! It is short enough not to cause too
> much grief, and I'm sure you're glad it isn't a
> mile long.
>
> The interesting thing is it really isn't the grade
> or size of train itself - you can have a runway
> with one car or 8 cars or 107 cars, and the grade
> doesn't have to be 3%, there have been runaways on
> 1%.
>
> This CN runaway is disturbing to me because part
> of the crew had already successfully survived one
> runaway without any damage or injury. Regardless
> of the actual cause, something went horribly wrong
> in the decision making process and common sense
> quickly flew out the window so it wouldn't have to
> ride the runaway. News reports are that one of the
> crew members that jumped has had to have vertebrae
> in his neck fused, not good for something that was
> probably preventable.
The grade next to the shop is a solid 6% and I HAVE HAD a couple of runaways with the big ARMN 110/111 series loaded 286 jumbo reefers in wet weather. UP doesn't do a very good job of maintaining the brakes on these monsters and I think the brake system was inadequate when when they were new.
In our case...make a running set and release prior to the summit and starting down the grade, draw off a full 20 pound set...bail the independent then only use sparingly.....only risk flat spots as a last resort!
When all else fails...dump the air and hope to hell the emergency reservoir brings you to a stop before the 15 degree curve at the bottom of the hill does it for you!
Dick Samuels
-------------------------------------------------------
> Shortline Sammie Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Your in depth investigation and discussion of
> > these events is extremely interesting and
> somewhat
> > understandable to a "flatland railroader".
>
> I've seen the grade next to your shop - hardly
> flat land! It is short enough not to cause too
> much grief, and I'm sure you're glad it isn't a
> mile long.
>
> The interesting thing is it really isn't the grade
> or size of train itself - you can have a runway
> with one car or 8 cars or 107 cars, and the grade
> doesn't have to be 3%, there have been runaways on
> 1%.
>
> This CN runaway is disturbing to me because part
> of the crew had already successfully survived one
> runaway without any damage or injury. Regardless
> of the actual cause, something went horribly wrong
> in the decision making process and common sense
> quickly flew out the window so it wouldn't have to
> ride the runaway. News reports are that one of the
> crew members that jumped has had to have vertebrae
> in his neck fused, not good for something that was
> probably preventable.
The grade next to the shop is a solid 6% and I HAVE HAD a couple of runaways with the big ARMN 110/111 series loaded 286 jumbo reefers in wet weather. UP doesn't do a very good job of maintaining the brakes on these monsters and I think the brake system was inadequate when when they were new.
In our case...make a running set and release prior to the summit and starting down the grade, draw off a full 20 pound set...bail the independent then only use sparingly.....only risk flat spots as a last resort!
When all else fails...dump the air and hope to hell the emergency reservoir brings you to a stop before the 15 degree curve at the bottom of the hill does it for you!
Dick Samuels
