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12/23/2024
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Viewing Album:  BNSF Red River Division / Houston Subdivision crossing 597159U damaged by lowboy trailer; Flynn, TX
 
By:Philip M. Goldstein
Dates:4/25/2023 - 4/25/2023
Album Info:A bad day on the B-RI. At about 12:00, I heard three huge bangs that shook my house. I knew immediately what it was. Sonic Booms? No. Munitions? Not. Fireworks? Nope. Another west bound low boy tractor trailer hauling a huge spool of plastic conduit bottomed out on the FM977 grade crossing. And this strike was a doozy, affecting the main line. The steel angle edging for the concrete panels is torn out and twisted into surrealist shapes, the concrete is all busted up; but most importantly the inside rail is torn from the anchors and leaning inwards and is out of gauge (narrow). To the credit of the driver and escort vehicle they pulled off the crossing and out of the way across the street and were walking back to inspect when I tooled up in the golf cart. I immediately called BNSF Emergency Number (it’s on speed dial on my cel phone!) and started furnishing information. Chris, the BNSF officer took down the info, to notify the dispatcher. I knew no trains were in the vicinity, as the track inspector had authority on the line from Normangee to Iola. BNSF Emergency in turn called local law enforcement and a Leon County Deputy Sheriff was on scene within 15 minutes, with Texas DPS troopers arriving 10 minutes after that. Another 5 minutes pass and Track Inspector Skates arrived. The driver, escort and I shot the bull for most of the time, waiting. Decent guys, not their fault. The crossing was replaced and retamped about 60 days ago, leaving the main track about 2 inches higher than it was previously. Of course, no one has notified TXDOT. The Deputy did a precursory inspection of the tractor trailer and it passed, as well as the drivers background check. The driver notified his superior, and took the news calmly. Track Inspector Skates inspected the crossing, the track is out of gauge by 1.5 inches (narrow) and the inside rail is out of its anchors and tie plates. He was dealing with torn signal cabling by a contractor crew that dug wit
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Crossing damage
Title:  Crossing damage
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/25/2023  Upload Date: 5/6/2023 2:51:23 PM
Location:  Flynn, TX
Author:  Philip M. Goldstein
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  40   Comments: 0
Crossing damage
Title:  Crossing damage
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/25/2023  Upload Date: 5/6/2023 2:51:43 PM
Location:  Flynn, TX
Author:  Philip M. Goldstein
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  36   Comments: 0
"Uh, hi; boss?" Actually his boss with cool and understanding.
Title:  "Uh, hi; boss?" Actually his boss with cool and understanding.
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/25/2023  Upload Date: 5/6/2023 2:52:05 PM
Location:  Flynn, TX
Author:  Philip M. Goldstein
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  34   Comments: 0
Note the right rail leaning in. Track Gauge was 2" narrow - no bueno
Title:  Note the right rail leaning in. Track Gauge was 2" narrow - no bueno
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/25/2023  Upload Date: 5/6/2023 2:52:27 PM
Location:  Flynn, TX
Author:  Philip M. Goldstein
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  38   Comments: 0
Escort driver and Sheriff's Deputy surveying the damage
Title:  Escort driver and Sheriff's Deputy surveying the damage
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/25/2023  Upload Date: 5/6/2023 2:52:46 PM
Location:  Flynn, TX
Author:  Philip M. Goldstein
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  31   Comments: 0
The field rail did not appear to be out of alignment
Title:  The field rail did not appear to be out of alignment
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/25/2023  Upload Date: 5/6/2023 2:53:05 PM
Location:  Flynn, TX
Author:  Philip M. Goldstein
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  34   Comments: 0
Track Supervisor on scene: "Yeah, this ain't good."
Title:  Track Supervisor on scene: "Yeah, this ain't good."
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/25/2023  Upload Date: 5/6/2023 2:53:23 PM
Location:  Flynn, TX
Author:  Philip M. Goldstein
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  33   Comments: 0
Empty Donie coal switched over to the siding track to run around the damaged rail & paneltrack
Title:  Empty Donie coal switched over to the siding track to run around the damaged rail & paneltrack
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/25/2023  Upload Date: 5/6/2023 2:53:48 PM
Location:  Flynn, TX
Author:  Philip M. Goldstein
Categories: 
Locomotives:  BNSF 9321(SD70ACe)
Views:  44   Comments: 0
BNSF 9321 approaches
Title:  BNSF 9321 approaches
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/25/2023  Upload Date: 5/6/2023 2:54:15 PM
Location:  Flynn, TX
Author:  Philip M. Goldstein
Categories: 
Locomotives:  BNSF 9321(SD70ACe)
Views:  34   Comments: 0
BNSF 9321 comes to a stop - track workers covering their ears - those EMD horns hurt
Title:  BNSF 9321 comes to a stop - track workers covering their ears - those EMD horns hurt
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/25/2023  Upload Date: 5/6/2023 2:54:42 PM
Location:  Flynn, TX
Author:  Philip M. Goldstein
Categories: 
Locomotives:  BNSF 9321(SD70ACe)
Views:  37   Comments: 0
BNSF 9321 passes the track crew
Title:  BNSF 9321 passes the track crew
Description: 
Photo Date:  4/25/2023  Upload Date: 5/6/2023 2:55:10 PM
Location:  Flynn, TX
Author:  Philip M. Goldstein
Categories: 
Locomotives:  BNSF 9321(SD70ACe)
Views:  38   Comments: 0

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