Train Derailment (Deliberate)

[87County]

This could be an unfortunate world record that reads like a movie script.

This train wasn't intended to be driverless, but it got away and it was on a downhill grade.

It travelled over 90km reaching speeds up to double of that approved until it was deliberately derailed by crossing a set of loop points - hundreds of wagons and kms of track destroyed, tens of thousands of tonnes of ore dumped.

A problem that probably would not have occurred if single driver crewing hadn't been forced by the company. Think of the $ that would have been saved if a second crew person had been on board.

Well done the bean counters !

BHP runaway iron ore train left a twisted wreck after derailment stopped it reaching WA town - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-06/investigators-visit-runaway-bhp-iron-ore-train-derailment-site/10469802)

[Pedro_The_Swift]

The after video is quite the sight,,,, why wasnt the driver in the cab? what can he be checking on a 260 odd car consist? no deadman switch? just how fast can a train that size "roll away" ?

[rocket scientist]

I find it amazing that they could derail the train remotely but not apply the brakes. Maybe they did and that was the result.

[87County]

The after video is quite the sight,,,, why wasnt the driver in the cab? what can he be checking on a 260 odd car consist? no deadman switch? just how fast can a train that size "roll away" ?

1. word has it that driver had left cab to apply manual brakes on wagons (how many I do not know - but it would take a whole shift to apply them all), other assistance was sought but they ended up applying manual brakes on the wrong train
2. "deadman switch" doesn't work in this condition
3. over 140 kph on the downhill 1:50s I believe - that would have been something to see!

[87County]

I find it amazing that they could derail the train remotely but not apply the brakes. Maybe they did and that was the result.

It was a point switching exercise from 1500km away, better than having it thunder in to Port Headland and spear off the end of the dock - like the numerous rail wagons being found in deep water off the end of the wharves at Pyrmont.

[mick88]

This could be an unfortunate world record that reads like a movie script.

This train wasn't intended to be driverless, but it got away and it was on a downhill grade.

It travelled over 90km reaching speeds up to double of that approved until it was deliberately derailed by crossing a set of loop points - hundreds of wagons and kms of track destroyed, tens of thousands of tonnes of ore dumped.

A problem that probably would not have occurred if single driver crewing hadn't been forced by the company. Think of the $ that would have been saved if a second crew person had been on board.

Well done the bean counters !

BHP runaway iron ore train left a twisted wreck after derailment stopped it reaching WA town - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-06/investigators-visit-runaway-bhp-iron-ore-train-derailment-site/10469802)

I have to agree about the Bean Counters, the cost of this disaster converted to wages would have fed a few mouths for long time.
Why didn't it have a "Deadmans" control switch?
I thought all locomotives had them and if they were not responded to in a given time the brakes activated.
Especially locomotives that have single crewing would require them for sure.

Cheers, Mick.

[101 Ron]

I just can not understand in this day and age of safety devices it occurred at all.
In the cabin of a diesel loco I have been in the safety deadman devices gave the driver the ****s.
I don't claim to be up to speed on these things.
Why would you need to manually wind on brakes on a modern train with all the wagons connected up ?
Why wouldn't the brakes be auto applied soon as the driver stopped operating the dead man in the cabin ?
Why wouldn't the brakes be auto applied if the train rolled past a stop signal ?...…….the average suburban train in Sydney has this feature since the 1930s ???????
With remote control tech...……..why a system was not installed so the train could have brakes applied remotely or dynamic braking applied ???
Even if there is a fault with the brakes...……..should they auto apply......ie air loss ?????

Ron

[87County]

I just can not understand in this day and age of safety devices it occurred at all.
......

Why would you need to manually wind on brakes on a modern train with all the wagons connected up ?

Why wouldn't the brakes be auto applied soon as the drive stopped operating the dead man in the cabin ?
...
Ron

I don't know the detail for bhp trains, but just for example in the latest local computer controlled trains, if the computer malfunctions the manual brakes need to be applied before it can be switched off & on to reset it (!). Just applying the manual brakes to every 2nd wagon in a 82 -90 wagon coal consist and then releasing them can take most of a shift for a two person crew - the crew member driving doesn't leave the cab, but they can swap tasks.

The "deadman" (vigilance control) is only going to work when drive/power is engaged.

[RANDLOVER]

BHP driver sacked after Pilbara train derailment claims unfair dismissal - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-10/bhp-driver-sacked-after-train-derailment/10705776)

[4bee]

In a statement released by BHP on Thursday, the company said that as a result of the preliminary investigations it had put additional interim safety controls in place.



Why would they need to do that if everything was hunky dory in the first place? Scapegoat springs to mind.[bighmmm]

[Slunnie]

I bet the driver will win the case and get payed out.

The case wont be about the train incident, it will be about BHP potentially not following their grievance policy and applying due process.

But no doubt it will depend on how his employment was terminated also, if he was actually terminated or if he resigned before he was terminated.

[RANDLOVER]

BHP runaway train derailment in WA punches big hole in miner's iron ore production figures - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-22/iron-ore-train-derailment-inflicts-heavy-financial-blow-on-bhp/10737426)

The driver better hope he doesn't get re-instated and have to pay back the $600 million losses out of his pay, otherwise he'll have to work for the next 10 000 years.

[4bee]

You're right RL.
He'd be better off walking away from it all & going to live in the Russian Steppes.[smilebigeye]

Not unless he has a very, very generous & understanding Public Liability Insurance Co

[RANDLOVER]

BHP reaches settlement with driver sacked over iron ore train derailment in Pilbara - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-25/bhp-reaches-confidential-settlement-with-iron-ore-train-driver/10846382)

Wouldn't you just love to know what the settlement is?

[4bee]

Wouldn't you just love to know what the settlement is?

Possibly a bit of Blackmail on some geezer's misconduct with Call Girls or embezzlement of funds from somewhere.[bighmmm][biggrin]