Quebec, Canada Oil Train Wreck

[RocketMedic]

Looks like the Jolly Vollies screwed up badly.
http://news.yahoo.com/five-die-40-missing-canadian-freight-train-disaster-005409883.html

Short version: The volunteers cut power to the train, which also turned off the brakes. Runaway train time.

 

[PotatoMedic]

Also note they it is reported that they contacted the rail dispatcher to notify them that they had cut the power. Yes the volunteers cut the power but they reported it too. And to someone who probably had the ability to contact someone to secure the train.

 

[Meursault]

Short version: The volunteers cut power to the train, which also turned off the brakes. Runaway train time.

That's a big oops. But why are train brakes a fail-deadly system?

the handbrakes would not have been strong enough to keep the train in place.

Alright, so what do you do? Can you even chock a train?

 

[johnrsemt]

You can chock a train if you do it before it gets moving; after that is tough

 

[CFal]

I'm working north of there in Maine, I could see the smoke