COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. —Eight railcars of military equipment derailed Monday evening in Colorado Springs, KOAA-TV reports.
The derailment occurred about 6:30 p.m. and led to the closure of East Las Vegas Street adjacent to the derailment site. A Union Pacific representative told the station that the train’s final destination was Colorado Springs but the company could not discuss specifics. No injuries were reported and no hazardous materials were involved.
Photos on the station’s website show a variety of military trucks and heavy equipment that were being carried by the flatcars that derailed.
A social media post from the Colorado Springs Police Department indicates the roadway was reopened by 3 a.m. local time today, but cautions that heavy side road activity could cause travel delays for the next several days.
I don’t see how PSR is involved here. It’s on the joint line (ATSF+C&S one way; D&RGW the other, now BNSF & UP). The ATSF thru Colo. Springs was removed and if the accident occurred near the junction with the Army RR at Ft. Carson, it’s UP.
The Army has only one railroading enlisted MOS (Military Occupational Specialty), 88U Railway Specialist, found only in the U.S. Army Reserve component. There are about 125 88U’s in the USAR. I supect the Army RR is contracted out with Army Civilians providing oversight.
Speaking in general, all 6 class 1’s operate with PSR. If the train moved on the main line, odds are a
PSR was involved in the maneuver. Thanks for the information about the steps involved in the operational movement near the base. I was only on the main line journey. I do find our readiness seriously lacking with the rickety stick rails and switches involved in the movement.
We most likely will ever know the actual cause of the cars derailment. My concern on this issue is how easily our security can be breached. We can only hope these issues will be addressed. The STB and FRA are certainly aware.
God bless America
X PSR, Vincent. The “accident” happened near a military base.
My point was that people need those jobs properly conducting the moves to maintain our national rail system. This example of our security system, which could be anywhere, anytime, was hopefully a wake-up call .
I’m not a big stockholder of railroad stock. I know from my experience out on the rails what is involved in those movements. Security is a top priority right next to safety. An enlisted man observing the move along with the conductor (which position hasn’t been replaced YET by PSR) might possibly have been able to stop the movement if that is what happened. We may never know the actual cause.
Overall, I find PSR affecting our rail system in a negative way. Top brass and stockholders love it. I don’t find that eliminating a job simply for the overpaid BONUSES to increase yearly for the brass, takes priority. Good paying jobs could replace those rickety rails. PSR, psr (which should stand for providing safe railroads) and yes, Uncle Pete, strikes again. PSR has it’s prints all over the movement.
v
Do you have documented evidence to prove your statements about PSR being responsible for this derailment? If so, I suggest you share it with the STB and Congress.
Could be the military’s own track had a gapped switch…Army tracks don’t get maintenance except where there’s Army railroad personnel. Most of them are at Fort Eustis
Some of these cars were specifically designed to carry specific vehicles. This means the car has tiedowns just where you want them to match the tiedowns on the vehicle and to balance the load on the car.
The Army and the RR’s have certain routes that can handle heavy, high and wide military loads.
Amazing that no real information about the cause, etc of the derailment hasn’t leaked. There should be someone who isn’t allowed to speak about it like there is on every other military incident.
BTW, Ft. Carson is just south of Springs and still retains a rail yard and locomotives for just such shipments. East Las Vegas street parallels an old D&RGW yard where the Ft. Carson spur branches off to the south. The post’s yard passes under Academy Blvd (essentially built as a belt road from Ft. Carson moving to the east of Springs, passing near Peterson AFB and ending at the US Air Force Academy), and sits beside what was the old main gate. I would always look for what was in the rail yard every morning when I was assigned there.
Peter: You are so correct. If military manuals are read and used as guides, most things are covered. (not all, but the correct way to, load/service/operate are detailed).
As one watching a convoy stage for movement, I was shocked when a low boy stopped and I saw an armored personel carrier, moved after having been well boomered down. We read the manual for loading. The shock absorbers on said item are so strong, no boomer will ever take them to bottoming out. The manual states: Chain the vehicle to a carrier….DRIVE against the tie down to bottom out the shocks, brake applied then chain the rest of vehicle. Again read the manual. This crash with military loads were loaded by people who knew what they were doing.
I hope in the future our military is allowed to do what they are trained to do. Past history shows, there are too many incidents when the military is NOT allowed to do what they know. Politicians step in to over ride the best practice.
This has a parallel with railroads. The high cost management will not listen to workers who know what to do. endmrw1010231258
You’re absolutely right. My only criticism is that FMTV’s (spare tire crane didn’t seem to stay properly in place. It’s a 5-ton flatbed (the sides can drop down for loading or be quickly removed altogether). The spare sits behind the cab with a crane to safely lower and raise the wheel and tire assembly. But, that C Troop, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division can rest assured that the equipment should still be serviceable.
I will say one thing based on the photos, whoever lashed that equipment down knew what they were doing. Looks like most of the vehicles didn’t even budge despite the flatcars being tossed all over the place.
This train was traveling at relatively low speed as it was nearing its destination (in fact it was in Colorado Springs, just not at its unloading point.) and may have split the switch to the siding directing it to its unloading point. The fact that the loads were properly and securely tied down and rigged is a testament to the low amount of damage suffered, if any really… A professional job by our military logistics personnel to be sure.
As for Rickey’s comments below, this has nothing to do with PSR or any other factor but was an operational issue that could have happened to any railroad. This shipment, as with all military shipments on any common carrier are highly supervised and followed by military security forces to ensure that all aspects of these shipments are carried out efficiently and with the highest care possible. It is very possible in this situation that the rails being traveled were a military spur which often are not in the same condition as a regular railroads main lines or spurs would be. I know that several spurs on bases where I worked or leading to the bases were built in the 40’s and 50’s and have received little in the way of upgrades since they were installed, often requiring low speed operations, the same as was apparently being carried out in Colorado Springs. It will be interesting to receive all the data before making any permanent judgements or pronouncements in this case…
PSR Strikes Again
I’m speculating that “blame” can be traced back to PSR. I find it inexcusable for our railroads that carry our military equipment not to have higher observation and safety patrol. The rails, roadbed and bridges are all part of our nation’s security force. Response times can make a world of difference to mobilize our troops and equipment. I always felt honored when I was called to carry a military train. Executive greed needs to be paused and their bonuses should be a paycheck for equipment and maintenance of way workers who keep our rail system mobile to the highest standard. They played one of the most important parts in this nation’s creation. People and the “scheduled” trains can co-exist and function to keep us all safe and mobile. We are seriously lacking in our nation’s priorities. Today we are setting a world standard and example for readiness in moving people and equipment.
WUA (wake up America)…DUH
Another derailment incident that should not have happened.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Do you have any information, such as actual facts, that support your contention? The derailment could have been caused by vandalism, or due to a vehicle fouling the tracks, or… Until we kn ow a cease, for sure, speculation is just that–speculatio.