Article

2023-02-17 -Signs, Portents, and the Weather-

Train carrying hazardous materials derails near Detroit

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Posted by Fred 2023-02-17 00:00|| || Front Page|| [4 views ] Top

#1 Watch – Train Operated by Norfolk Southern Derails in Van Buren Township, Michigan

Posted by Skidmark 2023-02-17 07:48|| 2023-02-17 07:48|| Front Page Top

#2 Is this a new pattern...

How Common Are Train Derailments? More Than 6 Have Crashed This Month

Posted by Skidmark 2023-02-17 07:51|| 2023-02-17 07:51|| Front Page Top

#3 As fires at food plants and chicken farms have dropped substantially....

Posted by DooDahMan 2023-02-17 07:53|| 2023-02-17 07:53|| Front Page Top

#4 I think not a new pattern, Ms. Periwinkle.

In the 1970s there was a new pattern as the railroads struggled with getting government permission to abandon unprofitable lines. Maintenance was deferred, train speeds reduced, and spectacular fireballs (propane, PVC) and toxic clouds resulted. Hazmat regulations and training for mitigation and easing of regulations ensued.

Recently, railroad have focused on longer trains to reduce crew costs, there are always union issues - people fall asleep on trains, and there is the distraction factor for politics coupled with outrage for the media. But Detroit is a blue town anyway, and this minor derailment would've never made it to the news any other time.

Railroad safety has consistently improved since the 1920s, IMHO, with some hiccups - like the 1970s.

Posted by Bobby 2023-02-17 08:12|| 2023-02-17 08:12|| Front Page Top

#5 /\ "People falling asleep on trains."

Or as in Iraq, pilots busy reading fok books.

Posted by Besoeker 2023-02-17 08:32|| 2023-02-17 08:32|| Front Page Top

#6 in 2022, there were about 1000 train derailments

this is below the long term average of about 1700

however, this conceals several factors

Since the 70s, there are fewer trains but they have gotten longer (Bobby's comment gets at this a bit). This is good from an economic efficiency standpoint. However, a 4 train derailment is way different than a 40 train derailment.

Posted by lord garth 2023-02-17 10:05|| 2023-02-17 10:05|| Front Page Top

#7
Train carrying hazardous materials derails near Detroit

...How can they tell?

Mike

Snark O'The Day

Posted by MikeKozlowski 2023-02-17 10:23|| 2023-02-17 10:23|| Front Page Top

#8 When I was working with a railroad company the engines had cameras and audio. One of my fares was Suspended for 2 months because he was working a crossword puzzle in order to stay awake. They were also required to refrain from talking about anything except what was going on in the train. The engines are computerized so the computer drives the train.

Posted by Deacon Blues 2023-02-17 14:08|| 2023-02-17 14:08|| Front Page Top

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