M8 Collision in Bridgeport

https://www.youtube.com/embed/mF4rJxoHwqo

Video of the NTSB press conference earlier this evening.

This video says it all..........

http://youtu.be/JLAyZIuCw40

Unless you want a show brought to you by the letter F I suggest you turn the audio off, it adds nothing to the video. A skateboarder at a park next to the crash site took it, as the thread title says, it seems to be from just moments, probably less than a minute, after the crash.

Amazing footage! Some people have criticized the language used, but the youths in this video are honestly reacting to what has just happened. Better than anything I have seen from the "professional" media.

Bill

I agree. I should have put up a warning about the parade of obscenities. This video is rated PG for adult language!!!

From the Erin Cox WTNH Twitter page. Crews starting to remove the trains.

http://twitpic.com/crorrs

I think my IQ went down a dozen or so points just listening to these kids, but that is definitely some powerful footage, even if you're forced to put it on mute.

DutchRailnut wrote:focus is now on broken rail.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-575 ... ain-crash/

What exactly do they mean when they say 'broken rail'?

As in, how broken would 'broken' have to be/in which ways would rail need to be broken to derail a train like that? I could only really see something like separated and misaligned rail, but what do I know/that's why I'm asking for clarification if any can be given. :D

Travelsonic wrote:

DutchRailnut wrote:focus is now on broken rail.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-575 ... ain-crash/

What exactly do they mean when they say 'broken rail'?

As in, how broken would 'broken' have to be/in which ways would rail need to be broken to derail a train like that? I could only really see something like separated and misaligned rail, but what do I know/that's why I'm asking for clarification if any can be given. :D

I've seen rail break straight thru, like it was custom cut with a saw, I've seen it break at all different angles depending on where the metal was weak, also seen head(ball of the rail) web and base breaks, and of course bolt hole breaks. Kinda hard to explain without pictures.

Clean Cab wrote:This video says it all..........

http://youtu.be/JLAyZIuCw40

It does say it all...and then some!

I'm from Yonkers so the language didn't bother me too much. In fact I had to laugh when one of the kids said, "Oh man this train is way off course!"

Thanks for posting.

Found this in an article here http://gothamist.com/2013/05/18/70_inju ... tro-no.php , Looks like an Insulated joint installed with angle bars. under the guy with the badge you can see the other joint and the side leads going to the bond box.

Freddy wrote:

Travelsonic wrote:What exactly do they mean when they say 'broken rail'?

As in, how broken would 'broken' have to be/in which ways would rail need to be broken to derail a train like that? I could only really see something like separated and misaligned rail, but what do I know/that's why I'm asking for clarification if any can be given. :D

I've seen rail break straight thru, like it was custom cut with a saw, I've seen it break at all different angles depending on where the metal was weak, also seen head(ball of the rail) web and base breaks, and of course bolt hole breaks. Kinda hard to explain without pictures.

Not to mention, an entire Z train might pass cleanly over one break at 79 mph, and a light engine might derail at 10 mph over another. It depends not only on whether the rail is physically broken, but also the condition of the ballast (if there's a low spot or sump), the condition of the ties, tie pads and clips (if the rail is held firmly in place), whether the rail head is damaged or misshaped, the shape of the vehicle's wheels and quality of suspension, the curvature and superelevation of a curve, the speed, acceleration and jerk (it's a physics term, look it up) of the train at any particular location... the list goes on. The NTSB and Metro North will figure out all the factors and take them into account in their report and repair, so it's best for us to keep our mouths shut, our hands folded, and our eyes and ears open.

There are a few technical reports easily accessible on Google that seem to do a good job of explaining rail breakage, its effect on train traffic, and strategies to prevent it from occurring. I'm paging through this PDF from a Swedish university now, and there's another PDF published by the US DOT that looks to be on the same subject.

(Apologies to the mods for breaking the rule - if you see fit to suspend me, let me know.)

what signal system is in place on this section of railroad? Rule 562?

Cab signal ATC , track is signaled for bi-directional travel.

That video is awesome. Within two minutes of the crash, they had a lot more information nailed down than the news media did the next day. As much as their language is pretty rough, they seem to actually have a basic understand of how a train works, and how this crash happened unlike the buffoons on the local news who kept talking about "lanes".