stobart train derailment

just seen on news a stobart train with 66058 james the engine on front. said that weather was hampering recovery efforts. did the weather cause the accident or was it something else. the loco appeared to have a tree resting on the front of the cab. couldnt tell weather the loco was derailed or if the tree was on the line. the tree was upright and wondered if snow was to blame for the crash?

 

the loco was well and truly derailed as was most of the train!

 

Are you sure it's 66058? I thought the EWS Stobart 66 was 66048.

 

Its 66048 which has recently been re-painted for the contract which DBSchenker now run

 

Looks like the loco is quite a way from the track. Wouldn't mind betting that it won't be running for a while.

 

yeah was 66048 my mistake

 

I'd place an evens bet that it came off at teh catch points. Where would it have stopped if there were no catch points, as the trend seems to be to get rid of them.

 

must have been going at a pace quicker than walking. wagons everywhere. news says there were 8 bogies

 

bit of video from the scene at http://www.roybrown.co.uk/video/P1030735.MOV if you haven't already seen it.

 

Could have been a lot more serious if there had been people on the platform. Machinery can be repaired or replaced, people can't.

 

I read somewhere that he passed a red by 540 yards,where they came off on the catch points. Its not driver error,from what i've been reading. Also,thankfully there were only minor injuries to the crew,which in a way shows the strength of the 66s,i hate to think how it would of been in something much older.

 

I wonder if there was some water in the air brake system which froze, in Scotland's low temperatures, causing brake failure.
I believe this fault occurred a few times on BR's prototype APT during testing.

 

I understand this wouldn't be the first time it has happened recently either...

 

Was a hairy moment at Carstairs a few weeks ago....

Obviously nothing definate will be known till the RAIB report is published, but suggestions seem to think the train was in trouble long before the catch points...

 

Train was approaching a yellow aspect and when driver applied the brakes nothing appeared to happen. He then applied the emergency plunger which still had no effect on the train.
Train then derailed on the catch points at Carrbridge station. Estimated speed was 50 - 60 mph on derailment.

 

66's get a bad press in Enthusiast circles but the one good thing you can say about them is the things are built like Tanks which probably saved the crew from more serious injury.

 

They got it out there a pic on the end of the line site

 

Don't you just love the way today's railway does everything in an inconspicoius and understated manner witrh minimal equipment and fuss!!!

Best you could see the lights in Newcastle!

Steven

 

Here, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/uk_enl_1266153750/html/1.stm