Slog
News & ArtsMonday, November 16, 2009
Transportation Light Rail Derails!
Posted by Dominic Holden on Mon, Nov 16, 2009 at 6:20 PM
Proof that no one is safe until we're all driving Hummer SUVs. KOMO has the photos.
1
It doesn't look like it derailed, it just looks like the switch closed too early and sent the tail end of the train off in the wrong track.
4
@1: I sorta understand what you're trying to say, but I think you misunderstand what "derail" means. Basically, your comment amounts to saying, "it didn't derail, because there was a specific reason that it derailed."
Yes, but it derailed, regardless of what caused it to do so.
Yes, but it derailed, regardless of what caused it to do so.
5
@ 4, looking at the pictures, you can see that the wheels never left the track. I don't know what you call that, but I don't think the term "derail" rightly applies when the wheels don't come off the rail.
6
@4
I think he was trying to say it didn't derail because the back half is still on the rails... Split-railed?
I think he was trying to say it didn't derail because the back half is still on the rails... Split-railed?
8
@1: Good eye - that looks to be exactly what happened, assuming the train was traveling down-photo.
I'd call it derailing as well, though; if all wheels were still properly on rails, they could just back it up to fix it. That doesn't look physically possible here.
I'd call it derailing as well, though; if all wheels were still properly on rails, they could just back it up to fix it. That doesn't look physically possible here.
9
the truck under the (what I assume is the tail end) is perfectly aligned with the bit of track under it -- switch closed too early.
11
@5, 6: Derailed, to me, means that a train has come off of a single, contiguous track and is no longer operable. That is clearly true of the vehicle in the pictures.
And, looking closer, the "switch closed too early" theory makes no sense. No part of the train is on the switch. Any switching change would not have effected the vehicle where it currently lies, regardless of which direction it is traveling in. For it to get where it is due to a switching accident would have required large parts of the vehicle to completely leave the tracks, solidifying the notion that the train has, in fact, derailed.
And, looking closer, the "switch closed too early" theory makes no sense. No part of the train is on the switch. Any switching change would not have effected the vehicle where it currently lies, regardless of which direction it is traveling in. For it to get where it is due to a switching accident would have required large parts of the vehicle to completely leave the tracks, solidifying the notion that the train has, in fact, derailed.
12
@10: So you're saying that those photos show a train that is in line with its rails?
Weird. I'm just not seeing it.
Weird. I'm just not seeing it.
14
From just looking at the photo it does look like the switch closed before the last truck made it through. If so they could (and probably did) just reverse it back to put it right.. but it's pretty important that they first find out conclusively what caused the problem.
If indeed it was just a switch problem, it looks like somehow the train stopped pretty quick- within 100 or so feet of track by the conductor or some failsafe. This looks like it might be the entrance ramp to the depot, hence no passengers and a slow pace.. but if this were to happen on a passenger line at 50mph the results would certainly be more.. dramatic.
If indeed it was just a switch problem, it looks like somehow the train stopped pretty quick- within 100 or so feet of track by the conductor or some failsafe. This looks like it might be the entrance ramp to the depot, hence no passengers and a slow pace.. but if this were to happen on a passenger line at 50mph the results would certainly be more.. dramatic.
15
Oh, yeah, I see what #1 is talking about now. Derr. But I'll still call it derailing. #14 clarified it for me.
16
Teenagers. Quarters. Simple as that.
That's what happens when you let TV raise your kids. Look for the ones carrying skateboards around the railyard. That's the type who ruins transit for everybody.
That's what happens when you let TV raise your kids. Look for the ones carrying skateboards around the railyard. That's the type who ruins transit for everybody.
17
Are you guys really arguing about what defines a derailment, instead of talking about how we waited forever for trains that no one wanted, that go nowhere, and that aren't working?
Or how funny is it that no one was even on the train. A hint of thing to come, broken down trains that no one rides.
Or how funny is it that no one was even on the train. A hint of thing to come, broken down trains that no one rides.
18
@17: Well, you know, lots of people wanted this train, lots of people would like it to expand, you're incorrect to think that it goes nowhere, and it is working pretty efficiently. One incident out of thousands of runs isn't a debacle.
Yes, it did take way too long. I'll agree with that.
As for no one being on it: this is frequently true of trains that are going out of service for the day. They go back to the depot, with no one on them. The alternative, I suppose, would be to multiply operating costs astronomically and maintain peak-hour service 24/7. Then, empty trains would never go to the depot. And we would have service every 7 minutes in the pre-dawn hours of Mondays. Great idea.
Yes, it did take way too long. I'll agree with that.
As for no one being on it: this is frequently true of trains that are going out of service for the day. They go back to the depot, with no one on them. The alternative, I suppose, would be to multiply operating costs astronomically and maintain peak-hour service 24/7. Then, empty trains would never go to the depot. And we would have service every 7 minutes in the pre-dawn hours of Mondays. Great idea.
20
It takes just one incident like this one for many lives to be lost. I don't know but this whole thing is starting to reek of wasteful tax payer dollars to me now.
21
@19 AWESOME.
i would like to suggest that the passage of R-71 caused this train accident. it is the first of several accidents to come now that god will have his wrath rain down on us since we support gay couples and all.
i would like to suggest that the passage of R-71 caused this train accident. it is the first of several accidents to come now that god will have his wrath rain down on us since we support gay couples and all.
22
@lee:
I think you commented that you saw what we're talking about, but the switch in question is clearly visible about 1.5 train lengths back up the track.
The tail of the train that is sticking over just kept on going the initial direction while the rest of it started the curve and the result now resting comfortably on the guard rail. :)
And I agree, "Free-Railed" is a much better term.
I think you commented that you saw what we're talking about, but the switch in question is clearly visible about 1.5 train lengths back up the track.
The tail of the train that is sticking over just kept on going the initial direction while the rest of it started the curve and the result now resting comfortably on the guard rail. :)
And I agree, "Free-Railed" is a much better term.
23
It seriously only delayed other trains by 13 min? Was anyone riding at this time that can verify this? That seems to me like a very good management of the situation. A delay of a only a few minutes for a significant disrupt in a single-line rail system is extremely good. Looks like Sound Transit knows what they're doing.
24
OH NOES!!1!!! A TRAIN WENT OFF THE TRACKS. JESUS HATES THE PUBLIC TRANSIT. HOW MANY LIVES COULD BEEN LOSS? WHAT A WAIST OF THE TAXPAYERS HARD EARNED CASH
25
well the rain sure does make those rails slick! someone forgot to put the gumshoes on the choo choo.
26
@22: Yep. I realized that I misread the scene in a way that specifically excluded that scenario. And that does look like what happened, from the photos alone.
However, I will not accept a hippy bullshit term like "freerailed." Uck.
However, I will not accept a hippy bullshit term like "freerailed." Uck.
28
There appeared to be some damage to the elevated
structure on which the rails are fixed. Can someone
confirm this?
structure on which the rails are fixed. Can someone
confirm this?
29
@7: Your post made me go run get my copy of "Bleak House" and re-read the part about the spontaneous combustion of Krook. Thank you!
30
Your sales tax dollars at work (empty train) and crowding out potential future taxing capacity for other transit providers. In the "mode" wars, King/Sno/Pierce taxpayers bought the highest cost, lowest transit service option. Now that's it's grandma (human services) vs. least-best return on transit investment in a shitty economy, redouble your commitment to your consumer economy to keep your sales tax boondoogle a going concern. When Metro or Pierce or Everett asks for a sales tax plus new taxing bailout authority from the legislature, I say f em' (or, let them tax themselves into oblivion). Your choice...
35
Dictionary.com:
..to cause (a train, streetcar, etc.) to run off the rails of a track.
if "etc." includes POS light rail and by "a" track they mean a single track, not including other tracks I believe the train derailed.
..to cause (a train, streetcar, etc.) to run off the rails of a track.
if "etc." includes POS light rail and by "a" track they mean a single track, not including other tracks I believe the train derailed.
36
When the switch is triggered to send the train back to base, what triggers its return to the "straight" position? Is there a sensor? Or is it on some sort of a timer?
Is it possible the driver was actually taking the turn much too slowly, thus causing the accident? Some light rail drivers (like many Metro bus drivers) drive like their wheels are stuck in molasses for no apparent reason. I had one trip to the airport take 15 minutes longer than it was supposed to.
Is it possible the driver was actually taking the turn much too slowly, thus causing the accident? Some light rail drivers (like many Metro bus drivers) drive like their wheels are stuck in molasses for no apparent reason. I had one trip to the airport take 15 minutes longer than it was supposed to.
37
@21 perhaps you should suggest this story and your comment to the writers of "The Daily Show".
Thanks for brightening up my day.
Thanks for brightening up my day.
38
Remember when it seemed like every day there was a truck, tractor trailer, RV, or car on fire every single day on I-5 or SR-99?
I do.
Compared to that, the light rail is a dream.
Now, if they'd actually announce station shutdowns on the notice boards and PAs so we can reroute on bus lines ... that would be way better.
I do.
Compared to that, the light rail is a dream.
Now, if they'd actually announce station shutdowns on the notice boards and PAs so we can reroute on bus lines ... that would be way better.
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