Nothing Stops the Santa Fe!

In February of 1990 I was chasing this eastbound Santa Fe general merchandise train across the Audley Valley on the Saligman Subdivision. Any employee on the sub will tell you it's no easy task running a train across the rolling land at speed. This train broke into two pieces right before my eyes as I paced it along the highway. After giving a headman a ride back to the break, we realized just how serious this could have been.
A drawbar had broke on a piggyback flat was placed in front of a cut of heavy ballast cars. The bar hit the axle shearing the pin to the flat and sent the entire truck back about four feet. The pig flat rested at an awkward angle when all came to a stop. The train could have spilt all over the countryside, but remained upright. What's more, the rear of the train stopped clear of a temporary switch that was in place for an upcoming tie replacement program on the ABS territory line. As you'll see, westbound traffic need not to slow, but gives ample warning(HORNS!!) to the men converging on the scene to keep things moving. The eastbounds must us caution through the new switch and to run against traffic via "paper" orders from the dispatcher.
ENJOY!
Tim Wakeman

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• santa
• fe
• wreak
• saligman
• sub
• broken
• drawbar
• near
• derailment

[ats90mph]

That facing point crossover was a real blessing to have there. Normally you would have to back a whole train up to x-over in ATSF DT (rule 251) territory. Also new track material was already staged, so they could begin immediate replacement of the BO ties. Looks like the draft gear go ripped out too. Along with your help in transporting the crew, looks like the "right place, Right time" for this to happen. Good job.

[DH7409]

@ats90mph Yes, right place, right time. Too bad a lot of crews these days would rather give the international salute instead of a wave.....:(

[NSguy07]

Love the horn on that first passing train. That's cool that they let you hang around and film.

[DH7409]

I gave a ride to the head man back to the break from the locomotive since it was so far back. The division super ended up sending me a belt buckle, letter of recognition and put a short story about the incident and the "railfan helper" from New York in the division newsletter.

Got to love the "old days".

Tim

[skinnyshit8888]

The Santa Fe was a lot better when it was seperate from BN!

[mongo5888]

The Santa Fe was my favorite railroad.....miss 'em. But Uncle Pete is a helluva' road man! I love your guys' equipment! And they are VERY kind to museums (unlike BNSF!). ^_^

[fatcat1285]

@skinnyshit8888 oh, lol

[skinnyshit8888]

@fatcat1285 old? i'm 18!

[fatcat1285]

@skinnyshit8888 Damn, I hate oldfarts.

[est86leo]

@skinnyshit8888 I hired on the BNSF, AT&SF, post merger and you are correct my friend. Santa Fe was a great road and it was tainted by the BN. No offense to the BN but I guess its better than being consumed by the UP.

[theedge150]

nothing stops them except a merger....

[TRAVAM91]

CAN YOU TELL ME WHY RAILROADS QUIT USING THE STRATO LIGHTS ON THE ROOF OF THEIR LOCOMOTIVES? AT 4:02 THE PAN FOR THE STRATO IS STILL VISIBLE ABOVE THE RIGHT NUMBER BOARD BUT THE LIGHT HAS BEEN REMOVED... NOBODY KNOWS THIS SO I WAS HOPING YOU COULD HELP ME OUT... THANK YOU

[MrCraig1930]

I've had couplers shear the coupler pins before, and it causes a lot of damage.  Great video of it :-)

[MrFelt1000]

to bad they had to go