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Can anyone tell me the process of how exactly a train is derailed or tell me where I can find out?
Posts: 14 | From: Hammond, IN US | Registered: Sep 2002
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It depends on the circumstances. A derailment from a broken rail vs a derailment from hitting a truck are quite different.
Posts: 553 | From: Flagstaff, AZ USA | Registered: Apr 2001
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Sepends on the circumstances, as already mentioned. BTW, the F.B.I would like to know why you're asking.
Posts: 216 | From: San Carlos, CA, USA | Registered: Jul 2000
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I am asking because I am working on a research project on the pullman strike in which trains were derailed. I am trying to answer the question what it means to derail a train.
Posts: 14 | From: Hammond, IN US | Registered: Sep 2002
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Okay, I am now able to break the question down:
What is the difference between derailing and decoupling? What is involved in decoupling a train? Why are the stwitchmen so important? What is a fireman (on a train)? What was a train yard like?
Posts: 14 | From: Hammond, IN US | Registered: Sep 2002
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"What is a fireman (on a train)?" In the steam era, the fireman rode in the cab along with the engineer. It was his job to see that the engine was getting plenty of coal or oil to keep the fire hot, and that plenty of water was feeding the boiler tubes. The advent of diesels made the fireman's position unnecessary. Today's train crews consist of just an engineer and conductor.
Actually, you could still say there are firemen out there. Amtrak puts two crewmembers in the cab on most runs. They are technically engineers and assistant engineers, but they COULD be called firemen. However, they aren't called that very often anymore- it went out the window a while back.
Posts: 553 | From: Flagstaff, AZ USA | Registered: Apr 2001
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You're right. I was thinking of freight operations. I'm too used to seeing mostly Surfliners and Metrolinks with only one guy in the cab. I guess "fireman" is too obsolete a word for them now.
Posts: 246 | From: Anaheim, CA | Registered: Apr 2002
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After reading the Amtrak discussion board and the recent FBI warnings, I realized that it is best if my post be removed.
Unfortunately, I posted it before the FBI made their terrorist alert for U.S. railroads, and so it didn't come to my mind. In the future, at least for the time being, we all need to be more careful in what we post, as we never know who may be watching. It is the best we can do to protect this country as well as our freedom to go out and watch and enjoy trains.
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