one dead dozens missing in Canadian train explosion

Oberon · 07-06-13, 08:17 PM

Once upon a time in the UK we had vacuum fitted trains, the brakes on the wagons were released by the creation of a vacuum which was done by the locomotive, as such the wagons were all interconnected with vacuum pipes.

Like so. One additional benefit of this system was that if the coupling between the locomotive and the wagons broke, which was not uncommon, the brakes on the wagons automatically applied, which unless it was a very heavy train or on a very steep slope, would stop it cold.

Other safety systems we had, back in the old days, was the guards brake-van, or caboose as it's known elsewhere, which as its name suggested contained a handbrake which the guard would apply under certain circumstances, such as to help prevent the couplings from becoming too slack and then taut (which could break them if they go from slack to taut quickly whilst under heavy load) or if the guard realised that the train required braking assistance or had split in two. Signalmen were taught to check each train that went past for the red light on the rear of the brake-van or guard coach, if it wasn't there then it was quite likely that the train had split.

I don't really know the area so I don't know what sort of gradient the locomotives were on when the train split, but unless the brakes failed completely it would have to have been a fairly hefty grade to a) override the safety systems of the wagons and b) create enough speed in the runaway to derail (unless it went against a facing point/switch).

Time will tell, as will the investigation, but in the meantime this is a horrific accident and my heart goes out to the victims.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Threaded Mode

07-06-13, 08:17 PM	#5
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	Once upon a time in the UK we had vacuum fitted trains, the brakes on the wagons were released by the creation of a vacuum which was done by the locomotive, as such the wagons were all interconnected with vacuum pipes. Like so. One additional benefit of this system was that if the coupling between the locomotive and the wagons broke, which was not uncommon, the brakes on the wagons automatically applied, which unless it was a very heavy train or on a very steep slope, would stop it cold. Other safety systems we had, back in the old days, was the guards brake-van, or caboose as it's known elsewhere, which as its name suggested contained a handbrake which the guard would apply under certain circumstances, such as to help prevent the couplings from becoming too slack and then taut (which could break them if they go from slack to taut quickly whilst under heavy load) or if the guard realised that the train required braking assistance or had split in two. Signalmen were taught to check each train that went past for the red light on the rear of the brake-van or guard coach, if it wasn't there then it was quite likely that the train had split. I don't really know the area so I don't know what sort of gradient the locomotives were on when the train split, but unless the brakes failed completely it would have to have been a fairly hefty grade to a) override the safety systems of the wagons and b) create enough speed in the runaway to derail (unless it went against a facing point/switch). Time will tell, as will the investigation, but in the meantime this is a horrific accident and my heart goes out to the victims.