Bletchley Derailment

[Badger]

Does anybody have advice for someone travelling from Coventry to Wolverhampton in the rushhour? Not sure how this will affect those services. Can get to International if that's preferable (for ATW services).

 

[Minilad]

The loco approached Bletchley from the north on the up slow and got the signal to cross to the up fast at the crossover at the south end of the platform. Unfortunately it then took the 15mph crossover at about 40-50 mph. It made it through the slow end of the cross over, but smashed the points on the fast end, derailed and ploughed through the ballast to end up on the other side of the flyover.

Driver was taken to hospital in an ambulance but I believe injuries are classified as 'not serious'.

Loco was going light from Crewe to Wembley to pick up the Friday Pretendelino diagram.

You might want to put allegedly on the end of that !

 

[DarloRich]

NR Twitter indicates 2 lines are now reopen (I assume up and down fast) Loco still in situ and rerailing to start asap

 

[nr_signaller]

no it will be the slow lines that have re-opened, the fast lines are a complete mess judging by the pic! and the fact the loco is sitting in between the up and down fast lines

 

[Whistler40145]

Oh dear, so the derailment was human error then?

If this is the case, are we saying that the driver wasn't aware of the speed limit on the points or unable to see the speed limit signs?

It saddens me when any accident occurs & I am sure the driver isn't in a good mental state. I certainly feel sorry for the Driver. It must be quite difficult judging signs at night, just like driving a car.


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[DarloRich]

Oh dear, so the derailment was human error then?

If this is the case, are we saying that the driver wasn't aware of the speed limit on the points?


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lets hold off on such statements until we kow for certain shall we

 

[Minilad]

lets hold off on such statements until we kow for certain shall we

Beat me to it

 

[DarloRich]

NR Twitter now saying lines reopen at 1500

 

[Rugd1022]

Oh dear, so the derailment was human error then?

If this is the case, are we saying that the driver wasn't aware of the speed limit on the points or unable to see the speed limit signs?


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Not sure what 'we' are saying but I can assure you that the driver would be aware of the speed restriction at the junction, it's part of his route knowledge. Class 90s can be very quick off the mark, but we as yet do not know the specific cause of the incident.

 

[big_dirt]

NR Twitter indicates 2 lines are now reopen (I assume up and down fast) Loco still in situ and rerailing to start asap

It is a credit to them, how quick they can get it up and running again.

Does anyone know how they will get the loco back on the rails?

I have seen the pictures on this thread of the BRUFF but obviously a Volvo truck is not going to lift a loco with that HIAB. Do they have some form of a compressor with jack on board? How do they do it?

 

[Max]

Since there will inevitably be an investigation into the accident, it is far too early to take this as the gospel truth. It is simply speculation at this stage, so tread carefully with comments please.

 

[nr_signaller]

looks like the loco has travelled some distance if it was doing only 15mph is all i will say

 

[Whistler40145]

Sorry regarding some of my comments.

Let's just sit back & await further news lads.


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[yummy125]

From the daily Mail online:

Filckr pic:

 

[142094]

I have seen the pictures on this thread of the BRUFF but obviously a Volvo truck is not going to lift a loco with that HIAB. Do they have some form of a compressor with jack on board? How do they do it?

Used to be a rail-mounted crane that did it, back in the day. Now, pneumatic jacks lift the train up and slowly slide it back onto the rails. Takes a lot of effort to do correctly, as the jacks might have to be lifted up, lowered, then moved again to inch it towards the tracks. I saw one being used in a training session and, although the situation wasn't real, it took a good two hours to lift it back onto the track.

 

[the sniper]

If this is the case, are we saying that the driver wasn't aware of the speed limit on the points or unable to see the speed limit signs?

I know I said people will know what happened, but I doubt whether the fewer people who will know that information would post it here on request!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The loco approached Bletchley from the north on the up slow and got the signal to cross to the up fast at the crossover at the south end of the platform. Unfortunately it then took the 15mph crossover at about 40-50 mph. It made it through the slow end of the cross over, but smashed the points on the fast end, derailed and ploughed through the ballast to end up on the other side of the flyover.

Isn't this crossover being removed in the near future, with the new one further south being commissioned and signalled from Rugby?
Might NR just plain line the old one to avoid having to reconstruct it?

 

[Rugd1022]

Isn't this crossover being removed in the near future, with the new one further south being commissioned and signalled from Rugby?
Might NR just plain line the old one to avoid having to reconstruct it?

It used to be a double junction and part of it has already been plain lined.

 

[the sniper]

A question for those with local route knowledge, is the layout he Up Slow, Down Slow, Up Fast, Down Fast?

If I'm thinking about the location correctly, isn't it incredibly lucky that the train managed the first set of points, as if it hadn't he could have of gone cab first straight into the flyover pillar? Presumably that could have brought it down or destroyed its structural integrity?

Geez that must have been a scary ride.

 

[MKDriver]

Oh dear, so the derailment was human error then?

If this is the case, are we saying that the driver wasn't aware of the speed limit on the points or unable to see the speed limit signs?


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Not necessarily. Could be an equipment failure. RAIB will check and test everything before coming to any conclusion. That is one reason for all lines being closed all morning.

 

[Whistler40145]

Quite understandable that all lines were closed.

I know it sounds daft, but could a drop in temperature cause the brakes to malfunction, therefore causing 90046 not to slow on the crossover?


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[Brucey]

A question for those with local route knowledge, is the layout he Up Slow, Down Slow, Up Fast, Down Fast?

Yes, when looking in the Up direction (so Up Slow is on the Eastern side).

 

[142094]

Quite understandable that all lines were closed.

I know it sounds daft, but could a drop in temperature cause the brakes to malfunction, therefore causing 90046 not to slow on the crossover?


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Driver would have to do a brake test anyway just after setting off.

 

[oversteer]

I suppose it's also a bit of luck that the outer track seems to have "bounced" the derailed train back onto the track it's now sitting on - and not let it carry on off the line completely, something which may not have been as survivable.

 

[Turbocharger]

It is a credit to them, how quick they can get it up and running again.

Does anyone know how they will get the loco back on the rails?

I have seen the pictures on this thread of the BRUFF but obviously a Volvo truck is not going to lift a loco with that HIAB. Do they have some form of a compressor with jack on board? How do they do it?

One HIAB (brand name for a lorry mounted crane) would not be able to lift an 85 ton engine. The BRUFF (brand name for a road vehicle than can run on railways) would only be able to lift a max of 10 tons at close range, even with the biggest HIAB available, and I doubt they have one that size.

So other lifting gear is required for sure to re-rail the engine.

 

[big_dirt]

One HIAB (brand name for a lorry mounted crane) would not be able to lift an 85 ton engine. The BRUFF (brand name for a road vehicle than can run on railways) would only be able to lift a max of 10 tons at close range, even with the biggest HIAB available, and I doubt they have one that size.

So other lifting gear is required for sure to re-rail the engine.

That's what I thought Turbocharger. When I saw the photos on page one I thought that it was probably a bit small when compared with a railway locomotive.

So. They put the thing up on jacks. It is then held in place. It must be a very specialised jack to be able to have lateral movement of the engine once lifted above the level of the rail.

 

[Whistler40145]

Even if the driver had done a brake test when he set off, there is nothing to say that with a drop in temperature during its journey south that the brakes hadn't developed a loss of pressure due to frost.


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[Turbocharger]

That's what I thought Turbocharger. When I saw the photos on page one I thought that it was probably a bit small when compared with a railway locomotive.

So. They put the thing up on jacks. It is then held in place. It must be a very specialised jack to be able to have lateral movement of the engine once lifted above the level of the rail.

As 142094 posted, it used to be done by massive steam powered cranes I believe. Mounted on low run carriages. They could clean lift between 20 and 50 tons depending on their size. But hydraulic jacks seem to be the cheaper and safer alternate now. Not sure if faster alternate though.

 

[Madge Wildfire]

Hope the driver is ok, and best wishes to him for a speedy recovery.

Thank goodness it was only a light engine and not a heavily loaded train, and even more thanks to fate that nothing was due on the fast line in the opposite direction at the same time.

 

[the sniper]

Yes, when looking in the Up direction (so Up Slow is on the Eastern side).

Thanks for that.