Double-track with TCS Rules; 40 mph MAS.
TRAIN NWB-4 with 3 units [ 1-U33 & 2 U30's] and 122 cars + caboose Dpd. Binghamton for Mechanicville at about 1:55PM. After reducing speed to 20mph at Oneonta, speed was increased to about 32 mph when the train derailed on a curve at about 4:20PM. The locomotive did not derail, but the head 29 cars did.
Of the derailed cars, some were LPG loads which ruptured and ignited and there were subsequent explosions. About 55 firemen and bystanders were injured.
Cause of the initial derailment was a defective center sill on the 3rd head car (loaded covered hopper) which was twisted upward applying pressure to the coupler of the 4th head car on the curve, and the cars derailed on the curve causing wide gauge which in turn caused the general derailment. .
TRAIN NWB-4 with 3 units [ 1-U33 & 2 U30's] and 122 cars + caboose Dpd. Binghamton for Mechanicville at about 1:55PM. After reducing speed to 20mph at Oneonta, speed was increased to about 32 mph when the train derailed on a curve at about 4:20PM. The locomotive did not derail, but the head 29 cars did.
Of the derailed cars, some were LPG loads which ruptured and ignited and there were subsequent explosions. About 55 firemen and bystanders were injured.
Cause of the initial derailment was a defective center sill on the 3rd head car (loaded covered hopper) which was twisted upward applying pressure to the coupler of the 4th head car on the curve, and the cars derailed on the curve causing wide gauge which in turn caused the general derailment. .