Rescue efforts underway for 3 railroad employees after trains collide near Panhandle, TX
It appears 2 BNSF Intermodal trains were involved in a head-on collision at Panhandle, TX. A portion of the town is being evacuated
Video and photos at link above, along with a link to live coverage.
One person has been taken to the hospital, but it's estimated 3 other train crew members are not yet accounted for.
Authorities are not sure how both trains ended up on the same track. Head on collisions by rail are pretty rare. Many of the articles are referring to boxcars being piled around, but these are mostly steamship containers, stacked on special flatcars for rail shipping. Many of them appear to be empty, making them lightweight and easily tumbled. Since hazardous materials aren't usually shipped by intermodal (COFC/TOFC), the flames are likely caused by fuel from the engines.
Hope everyone is ok.
More links
3 Missing, 1 Injured in Head-on Train Collision in Texas
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/texas-train-collision-triggers-fireball-word-injuries-40187697
ETA: It appears one man jumped from one of the train engines before the collision. He's the one who has been hospitalized.
Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/state/texas/article86393427.html#storylink=cpy
Update: The Latest: Unclear whether crash-prevention technology used
Railroads must meet a 2018 deadline to install Positive Train Control on heavily use routes. Not sure if it was installed on this line, but it should be a priority. This section of track is on a route that moves 60-70 trains per day, according to this 2004 map
http://www.oocities.org/trainmaps/bnsf-traffic-map.gif
It's part of the line that moves trains from the Los Angeles area to Chicago - a major corridor for freight and passenger traffic. Originally used for hauling passengers and produce (which needs fast transit times), it's now also a major intermodal corridor for import traffic. Good grief, they're having to re-route trains like crazy today, up through Denver & Alliance, NE, down through Ft. Worth/Dallas and back up through Topeka (just my guess)
Disclaimer: I worked for one of the predecessor railroads of BNSF for 13 yrs. but am not an expert on their operations today.
A fiery crash erupted when two trains met head-on Tuesday morning.
Carson County law enforcement and rescue officials have not reported any injuries, but hospitals in Amarillo - about 30 minutes away - are operating on high alert as a precaution. Roads are still open near the crash, but drivers are advised to avoid the area 5 miles east of Panhandle just off Highway 60.
It appears 2 BNSF Intermodal trains were involved in a head-on collision at Panhandle, TX. A portion of the town is being evacuated
Video and photos at link above, along with a link to live coverage.
One person has been taken to the hospital, but it's estimated 3 other train crew members are not yet accounted for.
Authorities are not sure how both trains ended up on the same track. Head on collisions by rail are pretty rare. Many of the articles are referring to boxcars being piled around, but these are mostly steamship containers, stacked on special flatcars for rail shipping. Many of them appear to be empty, making them lightweight and easily tumbled. Since hazardous materials aren't usually shipped by intermodal (COFC/TOFC), the flames are likely caused by fuel from the engines.
Hope everyone is ok.
More links
3 Missing, 1 Injured in Head-on Train Collision in Texas
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/texas-train-collision-triggers-fireball-word-injuries-40187697
ETA: It appears one man jumped from one of the train engines before the collision. He's the one who has been hospitalized.
The two BNSF Railway freight trains were on the same track when they collided near the town of Panhandle, about 25 miles northeast of Amarillo. Each train carried two crew members; one man jumped before the collision, according to BNSF spokesman Joe Faust. The man was being treated at a hospital and the extent of his injuries was unknown.
It's not clear how fast the trains were traveling when they collided, but the speed limit in that area is 70 mph, Faust said. It also wasn't clear why the trains were on the same track.
Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/state/texas/article86393427.html#storylink=cpy
Update: The Latest: Unclear whether crash-prevention technology used
PTC relies on GPS, wireless radio and computers to monitor train positions and automatically slow or stop trains that are in danger of colliding, derailing due to excessive speed or about to enter track where crews are working or that is otherwise off limits.
Railroads must meet a 2018 deadline to install Positive Train Control on heavily use routes. Not sure if it was installed on this line, but it should be a priority. This section of track is on a route that moves 60-70 trains per day, according to this 2004 map
http://www.oocities.org/trainmaps/bnsf-traffic-map.gif
It's part of the line that moves trains from the Los Angeles area to Chicago - a major corridor for freight and passenger traffic. Originally used for hauling passengers and produce (which needs fast transit times), it's now also a major intermodal corridor for import traffic. Good grief, they're having to re-route trains like crazy today, up through Denver & Alliance, NE, down through Ft. Worth/Dallas and back up through Topeka (just my guess)
Disclaimer: I worked for one of the predecessor railroads of BNSF for 13 yrs. but am not an expert on their operations today.