Canadian Train Crash

[Nickyboy]

A runaway oil train has pretty much wiped out a town center. 60 people missing.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23212541

[Nickyboy]

Yes they do but as hump shunting is common is Canada and the USA manual handbrakes are used when parked and not attached to locomotives. It has been suggested sabotage was the cause, if true then it would have to be someone who knew what they were doing although i bet they never envisaged the outcome.

[Nickyboy]

FunkyChucker said:

So if the air brakes failed why did the hand brakes not hold the train? It's looking like there were not a sufficient number of wagon hand brakes applied.

Edited by FunkyChucker on Monday 8th July 20:48

The handbrakes are not normally applied in daily running, usually only when the wagons are being loaded/unloaded etc or when left unattended without locomotive support, even then that's rare unless they are staying there for a long time.