10/19/21 Heath St Type 8 Derailment

Universal Hub reports a Type 8 derailed at Heath St on 10/19, possibly due to skateboard:

https://universalhub.com/2021/green-lin ... near-heath

It really doesn't take much for these things!

The Type 8...the trolley that derails standing still on a glass tabletop!

How many more derailments do we need before anything significant is done? This year alone it’s been by far too many for something to not be wrong. It’s sad and scary at the same time.

This one shows the skateboard that caused the derailment:

https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/mb ... s/2525571/

It doesn’t add up at all. A skateboard should not cause a derailment ever! It’s just rediculous that derailments keep happening on the Mbta.

The Breda Costruzioni Ferroviarie / AnsaldoBreda Type 8's are known to easily derail, which was estimated to cost the "T" an extra $101M over the expected 20 year life. Based on this derailment, maybe Type 8's should be removed from street running past Brigham Circle, and extend the life of the Kinki Type 7's and prioritize the Type 8 to be replaced first. And don't want them on the Mattapan line - keep the PCCs.

Given that interoperability with the 7s/8s was a specification of the Type 9 RFP, I wouldn't be surprised if we see 7/9 consists when the 10s start to arrive, with the 8s being the first to go. We already know that the 8s aren't going to get a midlife, and their derailing problems don't appear to have gotten better with age.

The type 9 will not MU with either the 7 or 8. The 9 will be able to mechanically couple to a 7/8 for towing/pushing. Long term is for the 9s to replace the PCCs.