Mike Hale CSX Transportation Director of Train Accident Prevention

Transcription

1 Train Accident Prevention & Investigation Mike Hale CSX Transportation Director of Train Accident Prevention

2 Train Accidents and Derailments Train Accident An event involving the operation of on-track equipment which results in derailment of one or more wheels or damage to railroad property. Derailment A Train Accident in which the Normal Wheel/Rail Relationship is Disturbed.

3 3 CSX is getting better but

4 FRA Train Accidents Favorable 19% FRA Train Accidents J F M A M J J A S O N D Rate

5 CSX Vision & Core Values Vision: To be the safest, most progressive North American railroad, relentless in the pursuit of customer and employee excellence Core Values: It starts with the customer People make the difference Safety is a way of life Fact Based Right Results, Right Way 5

6 Fact Based Investigation 12 Step Process 1. Safety 2. Train Documentation 3. Mark Where Lead Locomotive Stopped 4. Crew Interviews 5. Event Recorder/DVR Download 6. Inspect Cars Coupled to Locomotive not derailed 7. Determine P.D. and Wheel Action 8. Determine Principle Car 9. Site Sketch/Photos/Video 10.Track Notes (Form TA-6) 11. Principle Car Inspection (Preceding /Following Car as required) 12.Wayside Detection Information 6

7 Who are the Players on this TEAM? Transportation Engineering And Mechanical Additional TEAM members: Railroad Police Load Engineering & Design 7

8 8 Transportation Fact Finding

9 First Things to Determine Point of Derailment Wheel Action First Wheel Off

10 Point Of Derailment The (PD) point of derailment is critical when trying to analyze an event recorder Mark the rail at the point where the lead unit s, lead truck stopped This serves as the exact location if needed later for precise measurements

11 Event Recorders The event recorder download is a fingerprint of train handling events performed by the locomotive engineer. It will show events that may have occurred in which the engineer played no role, such as train line initiated emergencies.

12 Event Recorders By reviewing the download, many times you can determine quickly any unusual activity that could have played a role in contributing to the derailment. The Road Foreman of Engines a valuable team member that has been trained and is the Subject Matter Expert in reading and understanding this data.

13 Event Recorders Multi-event Downloaded at the Scene Using a Laptop Wayside downloads via ERADS Determine Wheel Diameter using witness groove 38 on all other AC Locomotives 36 on all DC Locomotives Make Corrections to Date/Time if necessary

14 FRA Event Recorder Requirements (Definitions), by law these event recorders must retain at least 48 hours of data and show the specified data for the last 8 hours the locomotive was in motion, showing: -Speed -Time -Throttle Position -Independent Brakes -Direction of Motion -Distance -Train Brakes -Dynamic Brakes, if equipped

15 Event Recorders (continued) Download All Units that were On-Line ERADS downloads also helpful and more accurate (GPS & Speed) Immediate Feedback Shown In Graphic Format Shown In Data Table Format

16 Data Analysis Speed Amperage developed Braking Forces Throttle Action

17 Data Analysis

18 Crew Interview Representatives from Mechanical and Engineering should be present Questions centered around Train Handling Activity Prior to PD To The Interviewer - Have a list of questions prepared prior to crew interview Tools Needed Track Charts Train Doc s Time Table

19 Crew Interview cont. RFE Best Trained to lead the Interview Team Knowledge of Train Handling Rules and Locomotive Characteristics Advice on any necessary change to rules Engineer Certification issues RFE to provide written interpretation of download data and crew interview

20 Reenactment with all parties present Re create event if possible? Weather Time of day Equipment & tonnage Speed/acceleration Braking Track conditions Train handling 20

21 Mechanical Fact Finding

22 Mechanical Fact Finding Focus 1. Wheel Sets 2. 3-Piece Truck Warp Resistance Vertical Damping 3. Side Bearings Truck and Body Interface 4. Bolster Bowl/Center Plate Interface Steering 5. Draft Systems 22

23 Wheel Sets Proper location of principle wheel Identify Size Inspect for Defects (per AAR rules 36,41,43 & 44) Wheel Profile 23

24 Wheel defects of particular interest Gaging for Tread Worn Hollow & Thin Flange Wheel 24

25 3-Piece Truck Components 2 Major types Barber Variable Damp Ride Control Constant Damp Friction Shoe Damping Systems Truck Bolster Side Frames Brake Beams Spring Packages Adapters 25

26 3 - Piece Truck Inspection Includes Friction wedge rise Spring condition Side frame column wear plates Gib wear

27 Friction wedge rise Normal wedge rise Worn Condition 27

28 Friction wedge integrity/warped Suspension Side Frame to Bolster stiffness will prevent Warp Warped truck causes angle of attack issues with wheels 28

29 Other Truck Inspection critical components Side frame column wear Plates Gib clearance Spring Package Condition 29

30 Side Bearings Truck Side Bearing Arrangement Interfaces with the Body Side Bearing Wear Plate. Conventional style (roller or block) Constant Contact Measurements 30

31 Side Bearing Measurements Roller Type Side Bearings 3/16 th to 5/16 th Constant Contact Type 5-1/16 th +/- 1/16 th 31

32 Center Plate / Bolster Bowl

33 Center Plate Clearance

34 Draft Systems Draft Gears 4 to 6 inches F/S slack Friction Friction/Rubber Hydraulic End-of-Car Cushioning 10 to 20 inches F/S slack Hydraulic Return Spring Center-of-Car Cushioning 20 to 30 plus inches F/S slack 34

35 Standard E-Type Coupler & Draft Gear Arrangement 35

36 End of Car Cushioning Device E Coupler Design EOC E/F Coupler Type EOC 36

37 Center of Car Cushioning Device Sliding Centersill 37

38 Mechanical Condition Coupler and draft system Car combination (long car/short car in curve) Marks on coupler Side of shank due to contact with the side of draft sill opening Contact between back of horn and striker Coupler carrier condition Draft pocket condition

39 39 Contact Wear Patterns Where they should or should not be

40 Shop Inspection of Principle Car and Others TA 5 Equipment Inspection Report 40

41 Track Fact Finding

42 Overview Track Train Accidents are caused by: Track Geometry Component Failure MWI Stationing Track Features Geometry: Gage, Surface & Line Train Accident Investigation 42

43 Basic Track Geometry Gage Alignment Cross level / Super elevation 43

44 Track Gage Gage is the distance between the gage side of the rails, measured 5/8 inch below the top of rail. The amount of tie plate movement or abrasion marks on the crosstie and rail base movement on the tie plate must be added to the measured gage reading. The abrasion marks need to be analyzed to determine: If marks were made over a period of time. If marks were due to a sudden lateral force greater than the track structure strength. 44

45 Alignment Alignment is the measurement of curvature Tangent Track Alignment will equal zero Curved Track Alignment is defined by a uniform degree of curvature greater than zero Alignment deviations and degree of curvature is measured with a 62 ft. chord 45

46 46 Simple Curve

47 47 Track Misalignment

48 Surface Cross level The difference in height between the top of one rail and the top of the opposite rail. Tangent track - crosslevel should be zero. Curve track crosslevel (Superelevation) is the intentional raising of the outer rail above the inner rail to partially overcome centrifugal force. 49

49 Cross Level Measurement 50

50 51 Super Elevation in Curved Track

51 Improper Superelevation Increases: Rail Wear Fastener Wear Degradation of Rail Profile Shape Tie Wear Wheel Wear Truck Component Wear Fuel Consumption Derailment Potential Engineering Mechanical Operations 52

52 Equal Vertical Load on Each Rail Centrifugal Force At Equilibrium; Equal Vertical Load on High & Low Rail Gravity Resultant Force Centered 53

53 Warp / Twist The difference in crosslevel or superelevation measurements taken at two points on the rail less than 62 ft. apart is known as Warp or Twist. Warp in spirals and curves is more critical than crosslevel variations on tangent track. Truck center spacing of the principle car in a derailment should be considered when evaluating the amount of warp measured. 54

54 Warp or Twist Direction of Travel CSXT Loss of Vertical Load on Left Side Lead Truck causes Wheel Lift Low Joint Truck Center spacing of the principle car should be considered when evaluating warp measurements. 55

55 Track Components Track Component Examples Crossties Rail Ballast Switches Diamonds Signals Bridges 56

56 Track Component Issues Broken Switch Point Transverse Detail Fracture (TDD) 57

57 Post Accident Track Inspection Engineering TA 6 Track Notes 58

58 End of TAPS Presentation Find a condition or failure that relates to wheel action at the point of derailment. Assign True Cause of the incident Create and implement corrective action to prevent a reoccurrence 59

59 60 Improper or Shifted Loads

60 61 Loads like this can create serious issues!

61 Looks like this underneath Too Much Side Bearing Clearance Hard on Side Bearing Here 62

62 Importance of Proper Loading of Coal Cars AAR Open Top Loading Rules (fig.88) Section 2 Part 1 Iron Ore, Limestone, Coal, Coke, Bulk Minerals and Similar Materials Hopper and Gondolas LD LMT LT WT Load weight must be evenly distributed end to end and side to side 63

63 Improper Loading creates Train Handling Issues Side to Side Uneven Loading Side bearing tightness equals stiff truck Overbalance could result in wheel lift End to End Uneven Loading Truck Steering Wheel climb Air Brake concerns (empty load device) 64

64 Car not loaded properly from end to end Sets up a weight differential from end to end of car LD LMT LT WT Weight differential creates issues with truck steering 65

65 Empty / Load Sensing Devices Diaphragm Type Sensing Device Arm Type Sensing Device 66

66 Slope Sheet Mounted Sensing Device Empty or improperly loaded car doesn t depress diaphragm Properly loaded car, product depresses diaphragm Braking Capacity 40,50,or 60 % Braking Capacity 100% 67

67 Slope Sheet Empty Load Device not activated Loading procedure leaves a void in one end Although car is ¾ loaded Brake capacity is reduced Rail Car is treated as an empty 68

68 69 Questions?