Runaway cars smash into harbor terminal in Oslo, 3 killed

[Bob C]

Thank You, Stein, for your time and effort reporting, researching and explaining this (perhaps) painful accident...and maybe taking a little heat from some of us with or without railroad experience. Cars to be classified by a "Hump" yard, must have all air bled out and hand brakes released to roll to rest in the "destination" or outbound tracks - hence the automatic (powered)"retarders" to control speed, and at the far end of tracks, mechanical retarders and "skates" or other stopping mechanisms, watched over by a yard employee. This yard apparently has equipment on the A/D tracks to hold the cars to be "humped" until the hump pusher locomotive is tied on, so car brakes can be released in advance, or not applied after a "trimmer" move to a ready cut of cars to facilitate "efficiency"...this procedure will likely be banned or modified now. The Old Heads always told me, "Every Railroad Rule has blood on it." Thanks, again Stein, and prayers and condolences to the families and friends of those taken. Bob C.