Excess size caused train to break down in days before it derailed in Ohio, employees say

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ohio-train-derailment-east-palestine-norfolk-southern-excess-size/ ^ | 2/16/2023 | Michael Kaplan

[4Liberty]

When Norfolk Southern train 32N derailed in Ohio earlier this month, it was not the first time it had experienced problems on the route.

The train, which originated from Madison, Illinois, on the evening of Feb. 1, broke down at least once before derailing in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 3, according to employees familiar with the matter.

The employees say there were concerns among those working on the train over what they believed was the train's excessive length and weight — 151 cars, 9,300 feet long, 18,000 tons — before it reached East Palestine, which contributed to both the initial breakdown and the derailment.

[Verginius Rufus]

No doubt the excessive length and weight were Trump’s fault too.

[ClearCase_guy]

“Atlas Shrugged” saw all of this happening 60 years ago.

[Red Badger]

This is why Biden killed the XL Pipeline.

Transporting petroleum by rail is way more safer than in a silly old pipe.................

[indthkr]

Railroad unions hate long trains because requiring a greater number of short trains generate more $$$ for union employees.

[Blurb2350]

There was a report several days ago that it was known the axle assembly was on fire 20 or 30 miles before the derailment — it was detected by heat sensors along the route — and it was also seen in video footage released later. The engineer called to report the problem and asked for permission to stop. He was told to keep going until the next scheduled stop. There’s going to be a lot of finger-pointing and blame-placing.

[Chode]

White Noise...

[alloysteel]

Pete Buttigieg wants a rule that would make rail transportation of hazardous material somewhat safer? Maybe limit the LENGTH of trains with these hazardous materials to 75 cars or less. Norfolk Southern has been notorious for cutting corners and going to greater risks in recent years. A RESPONSIBLE transportation secretary would be aware of that dereliction long before it reached this level of catastrophe.

When cleanup costs reach these levels, bland assurances that water, air, and soil samples are “safe”, it all rings a little hollow.

[mass55th]

“Atlas Shrugged” saw all of this happening 60 years ago."

So did the 2022 Netflix movie "White Noise."

[Tupelo]

Paving the road for the lawsuits.
Always remember, the government is only responsible for the
good things in life. Never ever the bad ones like, You know:
un-Controlled burns of hazardous material.
EPA from both states and the almighty US government signing off on said “controlled burn”.
Governors of both states involved signing off on said “controlled burn”.
Dept of Transportation ignoring problems with the railroads
Sec. of Transportation running for president instead of doing his/her/it’s job.
No Sir-re Bob, it is completly the Norfolk Centrals fault.
Or maybe howerver many crew members are on trains.

[mass55th]

Wasn’t it on fire before it derailed? How do they explain their excess size theory on that?

[Diogenesis]

so they KNEW beforehand that it would 100%-enable
the largest chemical attack in history, and they continued
even after they were notified the axil was on fire.

they KNEW .... and later Ordered their MSM to not report.

they all KNEW, and they probably manipulated,
again with the blessings of the SEC and all agencies,
that their stocks would make even more $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

[cyclotic]

You have to ask permission to stop when your train is on fire? I always figured the engineer was the master of the train and responsible for its safety, like a pilot or ship captain

[fretzer]

I’d heard a hot box caused the derailment, not the length of the train.

[JJBookman]

I’m sure government regulation or requirements are at the root cause of the accident, just like everything else these days.

[indthkr]

Apparently the crew of the East Palestine derailment dragged their train 20 miles after setting off a trackside defect detector.

Were they high like the Conrail engine crew that killed 16 passengers on a northbound Amtrak train in 1987?

Or we're they recent DiversityEquityInclusion hires that couldn't tell the throttle from the brakes?

[moovova]

It’s a good thing we subsidize SN with our tax dollars, or this could really hurt them.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

The engineer called to report the problem and asked for permission to stop. He was told to keep going until the next scheduled stop.

I'm aware of the value of corporate procedure, but this is one of those times in which the engineer should have told the boss to go stick it. JMO.

[caww]

I read there were issues they were made aware of but apparently not concerned to do anything about prior to the wreck. .....as so often is the case with transportation issues.....Butt head certainly isn't on top of his game....he doesn't have the ability.

[brianl703]

The general public also hates long trains because that’s the longer they have to wait at RR crossings, and that many more crossings are blocked when they have to stop for a crew change.