Go on a locomotive derailment with me. No one ever gets to see this kind of
close up action!

We try to re rail this locomotive with re railers and you'll get to see some
up close action of us trying to walk this locomotive back on track.

The front locomotive truck was checked over by the mechanics after this and they found
nothing out of the ordinary. The next morning I stood by the POD (point of derailment),
and watched the entire loaded train pass over and found there to be no track pumping
or lateral movement in the track. This was tangent track and occurred
while loading the cars which happens at walking speed. The operator on that
night is the most experienced one we have, he is a very good operator and has
loaded the train thousands of times over his career with no problems.

Derailments are classified as being generally one of several different categories:
1. Wheel climb derailments
2. Wheel lift derailments
3. Catastrophic failure of track or car component
4. Gage widening/rail roll over
5. Human error

We would put this under #2 wheel lift derailments. There was no mark on
the rail head or gage face where the flange had climbed up over. Most commonly
a wheel lift derailment is caused by excessive draw bar forces on the
coupler resulting in an upward vertical force which can lift the wheel up
and over the rail head, however it usually happens in a curve at track speed. Wheel
lift can also occur from harmonic rocking or bouncing of rolling stock but that also
would happen at track speeds. Also typical of wheel lift derailments is that
it usually only involves one wheel set.

What caused the lifting of the locomotive axle is yet an unsolved mystery. The broken rail occurred AFTER the derailment and was not a cause of it derailing.

While they were running the locomotive up towards the load out area they actually saw
the rail break when the rear locomotive trucks went over the track at an old thermite weld!
It wasn't a good night on the railroad, the locomotive and the rail were just
having a bad hair day, but that happens and that's railroadin!!!

Made December 07, 2021

Disclaimer: I am an employee of Iron Synergy at Cumberland
Mine. My job is railroad track maintenance. I am very fortunate to
have this job and everyone at the mine is very fortunate to have
Iron Synergy as it's current owner. Our past owners had every
intention of shutting this mine down, but Iron Synergy took
over and have kept this mine alive.

Please understand: I am NOT in any way an official or unofficial
spokes person for Iron Synergy or Cumberland Mine. Any viewpoints,
opinions or anything that I show in the videos, or write in the video
descriptions or any answer to any comment, should NEVER be
misconstrued or interpreted as being in any way shape or form,
any kind of official or unofficial statement from Iron Synergy,
Cumberland Mine, any of the mine's management, any of the
contractors that may be shown in any video, nor of any of
my fellow co-wokers.

Any viewpoints or opinions I may make in the videos, in the descriptions,
or in any answer to a comment is strictly that of my own and NOT an
official or unofficial statement or viewpoint that Iron Synergy or
any one at Iron Synergy or Cumberland Mine necessarily has or makes.

Again, we are very fortunate to have Iron Synergy as our current owners.
Please, when making a comment be respectful of Iron Synergy, Cumberland
Mine, my fellow coworkers and also any contractors that may be
shown. Thank You, Dave

#DerailedLocomotive#Rerailer#ReRailLocomotive#Derailment