03-27-2010, 09:27 AM
The one thing that sticks in my mind is if a switch engine was working a cut of cars, why did the switch crew uncouple without first setting the brakes on the cars? If they were using the hump to classify cars, why have the switch lined for engine bypass? Is it normal procedure to hold a cut of cars in position using just the track mounted retarders? The accident sounds a lot like an accident on the U.P. here in Los Angeles that occurred about 5 or 6 years ago. A switch crew was working a cut of cars in Montclaire. They took a short cut of uncoupling the cars and then planned to set the hand brakes to hold the cars in position, instead of setting the brakes before uncoupling. From Montclaire there is a gradual grade all the way into the U.P. yard on Washington Blvd in Los Angeles probably 20 miles away. When the crew uncoupled the cars they started rolling toward Los Angeles and they got away from the crew. The cars ran the 20 or 25 miles downhill toward Los Angeles at speeds of 100 miles per hour. Grade crossings were tripped by the automatic sensors to turn on the lights and drop the arms to stop auto traffic. Eventually the cars were switched onto a dead end track where they crashed and dumped 5 or 6 loads of lumber. Fortunately in that case no one was injured, but the U.P. issued new orders on how to handle cuts of cars in yards.