Just got home from work. We dodged what could have been a very serious accident in Ranier (International Falls), MN earlier. Only by the grace of almighty God did things turn out well. We were called for M34241-15 at 1800 to take a very long, heavy mostly loaded crude oil train from Ranier to Pokegama Yard in Superior, WI. We pulled the train over the Rainy River bridge (International Boundary) and cleared customs. Then, we were instructed to se out a bad order car, 37th out from the lead locomotives. We were supposed to set the car out on #1 Track, in the clear of the control point at Van Lynn Road. I expressed several times to the clerks, my conductor, the trainmaster and Rail Traffic Controller (Dispatcher) that I thought the plan was a very bad idea. Why? Simple. #1 Track at that point is on a slight hill sloping down toward the yard and Rainy River bridge beyond. Yet, we were instructed that we were to do exactly that. We set the car over, tied a hand brake, did the required securement test, and set the car back up. Then, my conductor needed me to bump back and give him the pin, so we could separate from it. I backed into it ever-so-slightly, fearing that if I hit the car any harder, it would cause it to roll northward. After he got the pin and I pulled away from it, precisely what I had feared actually happened. The loaded, 130-ton crude oil car took off uncontrolled toward the north. I had asked my conductor to wedge the wheels with wood, so as to further protect against movement. Yet the offending car rolled over the wood and took off downhill! My conductor did the best he could chasing after it, trying to tie it down, if he could, even though a hard hand brake was already on it. The car ended up getting away from him. I spent the next few frantic minutes alerting another crew in the yard about the situation, and notifying everyone I could to get out of the way. Because the track descends into a bowl and eventually rises up, we had hoped that the hill would slow it down eventually. It didnt. I also contacted the clerks at the depot what was occurring and relayed information from the conductor to the other crew and ground personnel in the area. Thank God that the other crew had the sense to get out of the yard and prepare to catch the runaway car with two light locomotives, which is what ended the crisis. I can still hear the conductors frantic radio transmissions ringing in my ears. Thanks once again to God and the other crew for their quick wits and actions. Its time for a drink, before I retire for bed.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 11:46:50 +0000
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