Working rail roads and their tracks.

[ArlyA]

The RR's have seen deregulation over the years. They have also consolidated which is good for profits but bad for upkeep.

 

[California]

What, they never took a physics class?

That's the problem.

The beancounters ordering the speedup to be more profitable (successfully) are resisting acknowledging the physical limits that train unions say are the cause. In the cases mentioned, heavy cars in the back half of a huge train can push light empty cars up front right off the track when braking. The article discusses how regulators are ignoring the issue,

 

[Cub 7274]

And they blame the train crew for "improper" train handling they are the scapegoats behind the throttle.... always have someone to blame or fire

 

[BravoXray]

Interesting article. They say one problem with trains 1~2.5 miles long is when braking, light empty cars up front get shoved off of curves if most of the weight is in the final third of the train.

The final part of the article has several examples.

The Real Reasons Long Trains Keep Derailing

Trains are getting longer. Railroads are getting richer. But these “monster trains” are jumping off of tracks across America and regulators are doing little to curb the risk.

www.propublica.org

I have seen several videos of derailments that were obviously caused by having unladen cars near the front of the train getting pushed off the track by loaded cars pushing them.
Still, I see NS trains that are 1.5 to 3 miles long with empty cars at or near the front of the consist.
Like another poster commented, whoever makes up the roster, never took a class in physics, or doesn't care about the consequences. Sounds to me like they are giving regualtors a good reason for some regulations about where empties are located in a train.

 

[California]

I expect railcars picked up along the way are easier to attach by uncoupling and sending the locomotive into a siding, rather than backing the 3 mile train into the siding to fetch them.

Picking up unladen cars this way was cited as a cause in one of the accident reports, with the local dispatchers at those points named responsible.

 

[ArlyA]

In case anyone cares to see what a draft gear looks like. These take the shock of braking cars.

or

 

[cqaigy2]

Interesting article. They say one problem with trains 1~2.5 miles long is when braking, light empty cars up front get shoved off of curves if most of the weight is in the final third of the train.

The final part of the article has several examples.

The Real Reasons Long Trains Keep Derailing

Trains are getting longer. Railroads are getting richer. But these “monster trains” are jumping off of tracks across America and regulators are doing little to curb the risk.

www.propublica.org

Maybe the could have a braking system that applies brakes on each car depending on it's weight and speed.

 

[gstrom99]

Maybe the could have a braking system that applies brakes on each car depending on it's weight and speed.

Yeah, that won't cost much.

 

[cqaigy2]

Yeah, that won't cost much.

How much do you think?

 

[bcp]

Electrically controlled pneumatic brakes, from:

https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/news/69151/electronically-controlled-pneumatic-braking-final-updated-ria-12-4-2017.pdf

As previously discussed, for purposes of this updated analysis PHMSA and FRA are using an estimate of $7,800 per tank car to retrofit with ECP brakes.
...
PHMSA and FRA estimated that 32,582 tank cars would be required to have ECP brakes in the low range scenario. In the high range, 43,430 tank cars would be required to have ECP brakes.

Bruce