kevin_standlee (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
kevin_standlee) wrote2012-04-03 04:59 pm
kevin_standlee) wrote2012-04-03 04:59 pm
Train Tales from Fernley
Last Friday night after I got home to Fernley, Lisa and I went for a walk after dinner. I noticed that there was a BNSF freight holding the main at Fernley. Lisa said it had been there much of the day. This must have been very inconvenient for all concerned, because while trains can pass at Fernley, the siding is much slower than the main line. We saw a UP freight crawling by at about 10 MPH. During our walk, we saw a truck either picking up the crew from the BNSF freight or bringing a new one to the train. We couldn't quite figure it out, but the train eventually did leave.
Lisa told me today that she spoke to the engineer of the "Fernley Flyer" (the BNSF local) today and he explained what happened. The BNSF through-freight, while passing through Fernley, hit a bit of rough track, and the engineer's seat collapsed under him, resulting in minor injuries. That left the lead locomotive inoperable. The second locomotive was facing the wrong direction to be used in its place. The third and final locomotive was broken and was only in the consist to be towed back for servicing. They were stuck.
In the resulting mess and delay, BNSF had to call another crew and the working locomotive had to be wyed so it faced the correct direction. Fortunately, Fernley actually has a turning wye, or else things would have been even worse. But nevertheless, that train sat there for many hours, doubtless causing the UP dispatcher in Omaha heartburn as he had to keep routing trains through Fernley Siding at 10 MPH.
Lisa told me today that she spoke to the engineer of the "Fernley Flyer" (the BNSF local) today and he explained what happened. The BNSF through-freight, while passing through Fernley, hit a bit of rough track, and the engineer's seat collapsed under him, resulting in minor injuries. That left the lead locomotive inoperable. The second locomotive was facing the wrong direction to be used in its place. The third and final locomotive was broken and was only in the consist to be towed back for servicing. They were stuck.
In the resulting mess and delay, BNSF had to call another crew and the working locomotive had to be wyed so it faced the correct direction. Fortunately, Fernley actually has a turning wye, or else things would have been even worse. But nevertheless, that train sat there for many hours, doubtless causing the UP dispatcher in Omaha heartburn as he had to keep routing trains through Fernley Siding at 10 MPH.