One rock stops two trains

I heard some scanner traffic where 4944 told the dispatcher he'd just had someone throw a rock at his windshield as he was leaving Liberal, Ks westbound. The rock shattered the engineer's side windshield and it was difficult to see through, especially heading west into the sun. The dispatcher contacted 8654 west who was behind 4944. 8654 was a Ztrain with a 2x1 setup and the dispatcher asked if his second unit was facing forward. 8654 said it was, so it was decided that 4944 would stop at the first siding in Tyrone, Oklahoma and they would swap it with the Z train's second unit. The act of one vandal caused two crews to be delayed by over an hour and the line to be tied up during the change.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• UP
• Pratt
• sub
• golden
• state
• route
• broken
• windshield
• tyrone
• oklahoma
• liberal
• kansas
• railroad
• train
• trains
• 4077
• 4944
• sd70
• sd70ace

[BNSF7776]

Neat catch Jim, GSR sure does have alot of nice crews and always fun to see power swaps. 5*****

[AJ67901]

@BNSF7776 Thanks Sylvester, I had to see if I'd forgotten how to shoot video. This was a good subject to get back to it. The crews are great on this line for sure!

[AJ67901]

Thanks for commenting, It surprised me as well, I'd have been way too chicken when I was a kid to try anything like that!

[AJ67901]

I'm sure you're right on that. It was the fastest way to get the mhnep back in business. The Z train was stopped for about 40 minutes, which is very rare.

[1489011]

is the SD70M Union Pacific getting fixed after the accident?

Michael Scott

[AJ67901]

@1489011 I'm sure it is, all it needs is one windshield. I don't know where the nearest diesel shop is, but I suspect it will be tagged as a trailing unit only and sent for repairs.

[UP8317]

Another great video Jim. I hadn't seen this one before. Great use of power and quick thinking whilst out on the road. I wouldn't have expected this kind of mindless vandalism out there; in the cities maybe, but not in the countryside. Anything is possible though. Very interesting and well shot!

[AJ67901]

@crazyrailfan thanks Nathan, just thought it was something unusual that might make an interesting video. I was surprised that a rock would shatter one layer so fine like that.

[tchnofile]

The z train is one of the biggest money makers for UP. When that thing gets delayed, the executives in Omaha know about it right away. Bet they weren't too happy about this!

[AJ67901]

Thanks for your comment. I suspect the vandals were way more garden-variety than any terrorist sect :) The engineer was not happy when it happened. It's the first time in 5 years I've ever heard of such a thing around here. Oh well, I thought it might make an interesting video.