This video is in Tehachapi. The rail runs mostly east and west with long grades to either side of the plateau where this video is filmed. It is beautiful country, too bad its in CA.
For most of the 140 miles between the towns of Needles and Barstow, the RR and I-40 are within sight of one another. Its mostly desolate desert.
Along that stretch I have seen two derailments, one while it was happening. BNSF runs two mile long trains with a few miles of separation at speeds up to near 70 mph.
(I've occasionally tried to calculate the Joules but my brain blows up before I get to an approximate answer. I only know its a huge number.)
In several places along that route, trains sit idling while waiting for opposite direction train passes, and for whatever other reason. I mention this because several times - maybe five times - I've seen cars sending great gobs of smoke into the air. At least once it looked like an engine was on fire. There have been at least twice that it seemed every fire truck in the county was on scene , once with heli-tack air bombers above.
For the amount of rolling stock pushed through, I think as often as it seems to happen, such fires are rare.
This video is in Tehachapi. The rail runs mostly east and west with long grades to either side of the plateau where this video is filmed. It is beautiful country, too bad its in CA.
ReplyDeleteFor most of the 140 miles between the towns of Needles and Barstow, the RR and I-40 are within sight of one another. Its mostly desolate desert.
Along that stretch I have seen two derailments, one while it was happening. BNSF runs two mile long trains with a few miles of separation at speeds up to near 70 mph.
(I've occasionally tried to calculate the Joules but my brain blows up before I get to an approximate answer. I only know its a huge number.)
In several places along that route, trains sit idling while waiting for opposite direction train passes, and for whatever other reason. I mention this because several times - maybe five times - I've seen cars sending great gobs of smoke into the air. At least once it looked like an engine was on fire. There have been at least twice that it seemed every fire truck in the county was on scene , once with heli-tack air bombers above.
For the amount of rolling stock pushed through, I think as often as it seems to happen, such fires are rare.
A strongly worded letter from Greta Thundberg will soon be delivered!
ReplyDeleteWonder how often that happens?
ReplyDeleteAnon: U would love to see that, and watch trains there for a few days! Thanks for the info!
ReplyDelete