Metra Accident in Chicago

LAST EDITED ON Oct-12-03 AT 06:56 PM (EDT)

I just saw the Metra accident that happened near 47th street on the news here in Chicago around 5PM (CST). The train was heading to Joliet, Ill. From what I see, 2 Metra engines leading the way is off the tracks. The first engine is it's side (can't tell which one it is from the TV), the second one (MP 36, or the new one)is sitting sideway, and the first few bi-level commuter cars are off the track hanging over to the side. No cause of the acccident yet and the cars suffered some damage. There are reports of injuries but don't know how serious yet. I hope no one suffer any serious injury. Will have more information as soon more information becomes available on news website. Ken

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RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, dgauci, Oct-12-03, 07:08 PM, (1) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, bnsf1959, Oct-12-03, 07:18 PM, (2) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, Nhtrain2, Oct-12-03, 07:35 PM, (3) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, metraRI, Oct-12-03, 09:36 PM, (4) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, metraRI, Oct-12-03, 10:53 PM, (5) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, NW 1218, Oct-12-03, 11:59 PM, (6) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, AEM7AC 920, Oct-13-03, 00:24 AM, (7) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, metraRI, Oct-13-03, 00:53 AM, (9) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, smmille1, Oct-13-03, 00:44 AM, (8) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, metraRI, Oct-13-03, 00:55 AM, (10) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, bnsf1959, Oct-13-03, 05:56 AM, (11) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, Nhtrain2, Oct-13-03, 07:31 AM, (12) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, NW 1218, Oct-13-03, 10:10 AM, (13) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, metraRI, Oct-13-03, 11:58 AM, (14) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, smmille1, Oct-13-03, 01:36 PM, (15) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, NW 1218, Oct-13-03, 01:38 PM, (16) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, metraRI, Oct-13-03, 01:45 PM, (18) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, bnsf1959, Oct-13-03, 01:44 PM, (17) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, metraRI, Oct-13-03, 01:48 PM, (19) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, TrainFreak, Oct-13-03, 02:51 PM, (20) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, Interborough, Oct-13-03, 08:07 PM, (21) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, P42number1, Oct-13-03, 08:57 PM, (22) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, AEM7AC 920, Oct-13-03, 09:01 PM, (23) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, metraRI, Oct-13-03, 09:48 PM, (24) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, NW 1218, Oct-13-03, 09:53 PM, (25) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, AEM7AC 920, Oct-13-03, 10:13 PM, (26) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, metraRI, Oct-13-03, 10:30 PM, (27) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, metraRI, Oct-14-03, 09:02 AM, (28) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, NW 1218, Oct-14-03, 05:22 PM, (29) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, CGW409, Oct-14-03, 06:29 PM, (30) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, AEM7AC 920, Oct-14-03, 08:26 PM, (31) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, chucksc, Oct-14-03, 08:54 PM, (32) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, TrainTrak5000, Oct-14-03, 09:35 PM, (33) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, metraRI, Oct-15-03, 00:08 AM, (34) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, chucksc, Oct-15-03, 12:34 PM, (35) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, metraRI, Oct-15-03, 04:51 PM, (36) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, ace6879, Oct-15-03, 04:53 PM, (37) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, metraRI, Oct-22-03, 06:20 PM, (38) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, NW 1218, Oct-22-03, 10:08 PM, (39) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, metraRI, Oct-22-03, 10:42 PM, (40) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, chucksc, Oct-23-03, 07:54 PM, (41) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, AEM7AC 920, Oct-23-03, 09:34 PM, (42) RE: Metra Accident in Chicago, NW 1218, Oct-24-03, 04:30 PM, (43)

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FOX news is breaking the story now.

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LAST EDITED ON Oct-12-03 AT 07:35 PM (EDT)

Thanks dguaci. I have one now, http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-031012metra,0,620697.story?coll=chi-news-hedKen

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The lead locomotive was a MPI MP36PH , the second unit was a F40, The f40 was checking the mp30ph systems, to make sure it worked, and in case it broke down.-NHtrain

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LAST EDITED ON Oct-12-03 AT 09:42 PM (EDT)

Both locos were MP36's, 411 & 409 were on the train. 2 MP36's have been on the same train for weeks, with out F40's.

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LAST EDITED ON Oct-12-03 AT 10:54 PM (EDT)

Both MP36's were badly damaged. These are pictures from CBS 2, 411 is on its side, 409 is sideways. I'm sure Rock Island service will be effected in someway during the Morning Rush, 2 Locos and 5 cars are out of service.

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Ah, them locos deserved it, but OMG! The speed limit past that yard is like 20mph. How could a train have crashed that bad at 20mph? Unless,..........nah.

Later John Means
KLW Sound and Activity Designer
LONG LIVE THE F40C!

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Train Fall down and go boom!!! I hope that engineer is ok.

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LAST EDITED ON Oct-13-03 AT 01:06 AM (EDT)

I think the MP36's are the best loco's yet for Metra. I have seen 411 & 409 almost everyday for the last 2 weeks and they are hardly late with any train.
The speed limit past the yard is more like 60, trains dont slow down on the main line past the yard....there is nothing to slow down for.

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> I'm sure Rock Island
>service will be effected in someway during the Morning Rush,
>2 Locos and 5 cars are out of service.
...not to mention that it looks like both mains are torn up at points. Anyone hear anything official about what's happening tomorrow morning? I don't know if I should be planning on finding alternative methods of transportation or not. (It's my usual ride into the loop.)

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LAST EDITED ON Oct-13-03 AT 00:58 AM (EDT)

Right now Metra is saying there will be service, but of course trains will be late, and one train from Joliet will not operate. I know the train that derailed does the 4:57pm outbound evening rush, but I don't know what morning train it does. Metra has the latest update....
http://www.metrarail.com/Service_Updates/

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Thanks for posting the pictures. I had to go to work prior to my earlier post at the top. I couldn't tell what the first engine ( underside facing the camera) was when I saw it on TV at 5:30 PM because they only had the ground crews with camrea reporting the story at the time. I did see the second engine standing up. I also saw damage done at the top of the Bi-Level commuter cars. It will need some major body work. Ken

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Sorry about the mistake for the loco line up. I saw it on CNN< and they showed only the end, and it looked all blue, so I thought it was one of the F40s. Thanks for clearing it up.-NHtrain

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LAST EDITED ON Oct-13-03 AT 10:13 AM (EDT)

Looking at the picture and the whole shot, hes pretty well towards Union Station, at which point hed be doing like 30mph. That looks like the end of the yard, due to the fact that on that second pic where you can see the entire train, the signal bridge in the foreground is visible from Joliet Union Station. Since the tracks go uphill after leaving the station toward Chicago, you aren't able to see verey far.

Later John Means
KLW Sound and Activity Designer
LONG LIVE THE F40C!

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LAST EDITED ON Oct-13-03 AT 12:53 PM (EDT)

The derailment happened at 47th street yard which is about 5 miles away from LaSalle Street Station. The speed limit is 60mph from Downtown to Blue Island, at the the point of the derailment, trains do get up to 60mph, and do not need to slow down. The yard was emtpy at the time of the derailment.As for 411 & 409, I don't know if Metra will decide to repair the damage, I hope they do. The cars might have a less likey chance of repair because Metra is in the process of getting more cars. 411 has the most damage of the two. Here are more pictures of the derailment. 411 is the one on its side, next to 409 which is still up right.

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411 was looking pretty beat up this morning. Trains were indeed operational this morning (ours was only 10 minutes late arriving). It looked like all of the cars were just set back on the rails, but otherwise still about in the same spots. 411 and 409 were sitting a couple of tracks over in plain view from the main. So I got to take a good look at it as we rolled by at 5-10 mph or whatever the slow order was.

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OH! This was outside LaSalle Street. Well, thats a different story. Also, them MP36's are F40C killers!

Later John Means
KLW Sound and Activity Designer
LONG LIVE THE F40C!

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LAST EDITED ON Oct-13-03 AT 01:55 PM (EDT)

NW 1218
" MP36's are F40C killers!"
True, but as of now, the only 3 F40Cs that were taken out of service had problems and needed to be replaced. The MP36's on RI, and BNSF are replacing F40's that will go to SWS or NCS for expanson. After only 2 months in serivce, and 2 weeks on RI, I hope Metra repairs the damage and puts them back into service.I caught 411 & 409 with my video camera Sunday, when it was on its inbound run before the derailment. I had no idea that would be the last time I would see them in a while.

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Pictures # 3, 4, and 5 is what I saw on TV at the time of the accident when I first post yesterday. When I saw the 411 on it's side, I couldn't tell if it was F40 or the MP36. It looked like #411 caught fire in the engine compartment and in the cab. Thanks for clearing it up.Ken

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ABC7 showed 411 after it was placed in the 47th street yard, and it is badly damaged. Part of the nose is gone, the right side has fire damage, and major damage from the roll over.

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Hope Metra has insurance, or we may possibly be looking at one of the shortest in-service careers of a locomotive ever...(hmm.. on second thought, the B40-8P Genesis I that was leading the Sunset Limited into Big Bayou Canot had apparently been in service less than three weeks..)

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Is it possible that there is a design flaw in the MP36 that caused the derailment? If so, all MP36PH-3C locomotives should be taken out of service and inspected. That's what happened to the R44s, Boeing LRVs, and Type-8s. A similar procedure was enacted for all new LIRR DM30AC/DE30AC locomotives, which were returned for repairs at EMD two at a time. Same problems as with the Acela. I hope everyone is okay.

John

Going Your Way for 100 Years. 1904-2004

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Could it have been a been a bad switch? If so, that would explain why that one loco is on its side...

This is the Orange Line train bound for Pattison, the next stop is Walnut-Locust, stand clear of the closing doors.

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Hey Guess i'm not a metra expert but how many MP36's does metra own I do agree if it's a design flaw then they should be taken out of service just like the MBTA's Type 8's which are finally working correct i guess the T got those wheel profiles fixed.

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It was not a design flaw, Metra has 14 (now 12) MP36's and still more to come (401-427). The train was said to be switching tracks and going too fast, causing the derailment. The derailment cause 5 million in damages. 411, the lead loco, was damaged beyond repair at the cost of 3 million alone. Metra has not said if they are going replace them with new ones.

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Yes, I had a fealling of absence for a couple of F40Cs. One which I believe is number 607 which is the best one they got. 611s still runnin around though.

Later John Means
KLW Sound and Activity Designer
LONG LIVE THE F40C!

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If that train was oversped i beleive that engineer is going to get it. Don't those things have a overspeed buzz or penalty application due to overspeed.

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F40C's 602, 608 and 610 have been taken out of service. The RI train the derailed was said to be switching tracks and going too fast. The limit is 60mph, switching speed is 10, something went wrong before the switch. 411 has been damaged beyond repair, and 409 has major damage. It is not known if Metra will get replacement locos.

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LAST EDITED ON Oct-14-03 AT 09:03 AM (EDT)

Here are some more pictures from Sundays derailment from the Chicago Tribune. The MP36 shown is 409. 409 has less damage than 411 does.

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From what it looks like, the trains was on the western most track. Now that ain't no 10mph crash. Thats a 60mph crash. The train could have been a runaway. The engineer could have missed the 10mph sign.

Later John Means
KLW Sound and Activity Designer
LONG LIVE THE F40C!

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As of last night the reports were that the train was doing in excess of 60 mph on a switch limited to 10 mph,the NTSB had run a test train in the direction of travel at the same time as the derailment and have determined no problem with the sun interfering with signals.
So as it stands now it looks like one Metra engineer is out of a gig(and just goes to show why you need to check that No Derailment box)Gary S

"Some say this country's just out for a fight. After 9/11 man I'd have to say thats right"
"Have You Forgotten"
Darryl Worley

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1st i have to say those are some nice pics i The 2nd MP36 doesn't look to bad but then again i can't see the whole loco. That engineer made a big boo boo. What kind of cab signal does Metra run with .

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>Here are some more pictures from Sundays derailment from the
>Chicago Tribune. The MP36 shown is 409. 409 has less damage
>than 411 does. Look Karlik! More Gallery (Cattle) Cars for VRE! Chuck Schneider
(Virtual) CEO
North American (Virtual) Locomotive Works

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>More Gallery (Cattle) Cars for VRE! Bah...they can keep their cattle cars...just as long as we can keep the Sounder sets. -- Mike Karlik --
-- "Power for you" --

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>More Gallery (Cattle) Cars for VRE! I don't think they will be going anywhere. Metra had no intention of taking anything on that train out of service. If the cars are repaired, I'm sure they would go back on Metra's RI line. The 5 damaged cars have been replaced for the time being,4 of those being brand new cab cars from the 300 car order Metra placed. 2 locos from other lines have also been put in service on RI, 1 F40 (183) from BNSF and another MP36 (412) from MILW. All Metra trains on RI today had delays from 15-35 minutes. No word yet if the damaged track will be repaired for the morning rush.

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Inside VRE joke brought on by our current equipment shortage...
We, who ride in them every morning over a NS freight branch, feel that Metra is send us "banged up" gallery cars in leiu of scrapping them.
Mike unfortunately the sounder cars will be gone by Easter and the F59s are already parked....Chuck Schneider
(Virtual) CEO
North American (Virtual) Locomotive Works

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Metra is getting rid of the smooth side cars that are being replaced with new stainless steal cars. Not all the cars are in bad shape, but are just old. Metra will eventually replace some older stainless cars on BNSF. VRE could get a lot of cars from Metra, considering that Metra is in the process of getting 300 new cars.

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YOU easterners WHINE!!!! We used 'em for decades and this i the thanks we get by sending you primo stuff???BAH!!!BTW, I was at a friends house Sat. night for a slideshow, and most worked for Metra. THe host IS a Metra hogger. he would have been on that run. sigh...makes ya think!Later!

Kelley D. Ellison
OK, CBPRA is gone...are you happy now?
CSX A-Line Chief lighting engineer
NALW Lighting engineer
Dekosoft Lighting engineer

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Some good news about 411 & 409, Metra is most likely going to repair the damages to both of the MP36's that were involved in the derailment.

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Darn. Metra made the wrong choice when they ordered those MP36s from Boise. Boise rebuilds locos, not makes new ones. F59PHIs would have been my cup of tea, or even some P42s. Yes, Metra tested an Amtrak P42 on a scoot on the MILW west line for like 3 days and most of the engineers liked the loco. I should know, my uncles an engineer on the MILW west line and I think he drove the P42.

Later John Means
KLW Sound and Activity Designer
LONG LIVE THE F40C!

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LAST EDITED ON Oct-22-03 AT 10:44 PM (EDT)

I think the MP36's look better with the bilevel cars than the P42s do, and the MP36's are not as bad as they seemed to be. Most are running alone and are not having problems.

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LAST EDITED ON Oct-23-03 AT 07:57 PM (EDT)

The latest rumor around here is that VRE paid the munificent sum of $1.00 (That's one dollar each) for the 35 additional cattle cars we are getting from Metra! Apparently the price was dictated by therms of the original finance/equipment lease underwritten by the US-DOT! Personally I think we are paying $36.00 too much for them given the fantastic 1960s ambiance they exude, not to mention the great ride quality and capacious seatingChuck Schneider
(Virtual) CEO
North American (Virtual) Locomotive Works

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remember P42= slow accelerateion. I think the F59PHI would be good loco's also I wish the MBTA got some instead of those trouble prone Geeps. The MP36's seem ok the me I think they look strange though.

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Well, i'm just sayin what I heard. I believe my uncle got to run the P42 and he told me it was a great loco to run. Ya, the F59PHI would have been a good idea because, and this goes back to MetraRI saying that the MP36s look better with bilevel cars, at least the F59 would be as tall as the bilevel cars. Oh, and Chuck, ya them old cars do give a nice ride, I enjoy riding in the old Milwaukee coaches a lot. As well as the cab cars with K5LAs.

Later John Means
KLW Sound and Activity Designer
LONG LIVE THE F40C!

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