I'm sure they were just following someone else's tracks...

[carmaman]

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2011/02/09/sotvo.nh.train.derailment.wmur.html

 

[CatsOnly]

ya right, no way can a snow embankment cause by a sled derail a locomotive, didnt even see anything in a way of a embankment

 

[roundhouse]

It has happened in the UP before, up the hill behind Christmas (these tracks are abandoned now) around 1990 or so. Where the trail crossed the tracks and it was a warm day with plenty of slush. That night a couple inches of slush froze solid across the tracks. When the train hit it in the wee hours at 30 mph it jumped the tracks and jacknifed the two locomotives, made quite a mess. It is surprising this can happen given the weight involved but hard packed ice is all that is necessary to run the wheel flanges off the track.

 

[indy_500]

They can plow thru the banks that snowplows make but can't handle that?

 

[roundhouse]

They can plow thru the banks that snowplows make but can't handle that?

Yes.
It is the difference between snow and ice. A train can knock as much snow out of the way as needed but packed ice can form a wedge that lifts the wheels off the track.

When you step onto a foot of snow how far do you sink in?
When you step onto a foot of ice how far do you sink in?

 

[indy_500]

When you step onto a foot of ice how far do you sink in?

depends on how thick the ice is

 

[roundhouse]

depends on how thick the ice is

Haha! Someone's been studying at the school of frnash. Well put.

 

[grady]

I had a friend in 5th grade that derailed a train with pieces of plywood. He was sent to reform school.

 

[indy_500]

I had a friend in 5th grade that derailed a train with pieces of plywood. He was sent to reform school.

rofl!

 

[dickmsp]

The real reaon...

Actually, it was from cross country skiers building up the snow with those awful dangerous cross country skis.. and spilling Evian water on the tracks causing the ice.. and then blaming it on us snowmobilers..

 

[xyooper]

Happened last year about this time just outside Mass City at a crossing where the snowmobile trail also crosses. Looked like the crossing got built up with packed snow and ice. Train traffic had been slow due to the paper mill in Ontonagon not shipping so the crossing wasnt being cleared out as much as normal. Front wheels of engine were derailed. Was fun watching the county wheel loader push the train cars back after being unhooked from the engine so the traffic could get through.