Intermodal Incident on the Metropolitan Subdivision
during the morning of 30 September, CSX eastbound intermodal train Q136-28 (Chicago-Philadelphia) was approaching Washington Grove when it set off the high-wide load detector at Cloppers (MP 24.3).
the crew brought it to a safe stop, and began inspecting it for a wide load near the 313th axle, fully aware that the detectors fail more often than they actually detect anything - false positive readings and accompanying delays are just part of the job.
they found that a tree had fallen onto the train, crushing trailer TPWZ 231439.
the five-unit intermodal spine car appeared undamaged, so with some assistance from a following K951 (Millville-Bladensburg) rock runner light engine move, the car was carefully set out onto the County Liquor siding east of Washington Grove.
the ensuing cleanup looks like a job for ... the car knockers.
click on any image to enlarge
the incident
the trailer's lading now includes fresh lumber.
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Conductor W. K. Stone next to the stricken trailer
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Conductor Stone rides the cut as K951's light engines prepare to push the rear of the train against the rest of the consist.
Q136 will then be on its way again, but with only 1½ hours of duty time remaining the crew was expecting to need to be relieved on the Capital Subdivision.
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the cleanup
two days later, the lading (pallets of large cans of Dole pineapple juice) was transferred by a team of forklifts to another trailer for delivery.
out of 1,008 cases aboard, only 20 or 30 were destroyed.
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what's left of the trailer awaits its disposition.
most likely salvage crews will cut it up on the spot for scrap metal.
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the lessons from this incident are:
- Pacers aren't the only vehicles susceptible to falling trees; and
- they are more solidly built than others (see another incident in which the vehicle survived but it was the tree that was cut up and hauled away).
Back to the Farm
the trailer's lading now includes fresh lumber.
Conductor W. K. Stone next to the stricken trailer
Conductor Stone rides the cut as K951's light engines prepare to push the rear of the train against the rest of the consist.
Q136 will then be on its way again, but with only 1½ hours of duty time remaining the crew was expecting to need to be relieved on the Capital Subdivision.
