a question about the NS accident

[MBTA F40PH-2C 1050]

sorry Schuylkill Valley, but i just thought of this question, lock it if you feel it is too late, what is the mainline speed in which the accident occured? i read 50 mph, something around there, now, wouldn't the engineer know something is wrong if he hit a switch going mainline speed? wouldn't the train derail at the switch if he was going that fast?

[glennk419]

Maximum speed in dark territory on NS is 49 mph. The black box on the loco stated it was moving at 45 mph before the engineer put the train into emergency, presumably when he sighted the misaligned switch.

[johnpbarlow]

I hate to make a claim without proof but I thought I read an article that indicated the actual speed of collison was in the 10 to 20 mph region...

[CSX Conductor]

I hate to make a claim without proof but I thought I read an article that indicated the actual speed of collison was in the 10 to 20 mph region...

I doubt it would have been that catastrophic if it was at 20MPH or less.

[CSX Conductor]

wouldn't the engineer know something is wrong if he hit a switch going mainline speed?

By that point is would be too late and there would be nothing he could do.

[efin98]

I hate to make a claim without proof but I thought I read an article that indicated the actual speed of collison was in the 10 to 20 mph region...

I doubt it would have been that catastrophic if it was at 20MPH or less.

It looks like the branch is on a curve of some sort, maybe the derailment forced cars together due to the curve- thus the rupture.

Isn't the speed of the locomotives recorded? That may have come from the locomotive of the unfortunate train...

[CSX Conductor]

[
It looks like the branch is on a curve of some sort, maybe the derailment forced cars together due to the curve- thus the rupture.

Isn't the speed of the locomotives recorded? That may have come from the locomotive of the unfortunate train...

Any new pics on-line anywhere?

And yes the tapes should have recorded such things such as speed, brake use, whistle, horn, throttle position.

[jg greenwood]

I hate to make a claim without proof but I thought I read an article that indicated the actual speed of collison was in the 10 to 20 mph region...

I doubt it would have been that catastrophic if it was at 20MPH or less.

A collision at 15-20 mph will cause unbelievable damage! Some years ago there was an accident near Clinton, Iowa, speed-10mph, two men killed.