CSX Incident at Gaithersburg, Maryland

CSX - We brake for broken couplers!
A CSX westbound freight (Q-416) goes into an emergency brake application in front of the Gaithersburg, Maryland station blocking the Summit Ave. crossing for more than three hours.
The conductor rides on three other passing trains as he and the engineer make the necessary repairs on two broken couplers on this long and heavy freight.

[@merrill1940]

Very interesting video. Never seen this type of occurrence in all my years of train watching and I'm 72 years old. Glad you were in the right spot at the right time!!

[@KutWrite]

We're the same age, man, Salud. Well, I'm the same age you WERE when you said that.

[@BaltimoreAndOhioRR]

nicely edited together & explained! thx!

[@goodeye03]

Nice catch, thanks for taking the time to tape all of this...As the train passes in the beginning just about past the first tank car you can hear when the separation happens and then the air dumping. The tank car gives a hollow sound, like someone hit it with something..It was going so slow that nothing bad happened (lucky). Good thing they had spare parts. Great job by all the crews.

[@richardwilkes6468]

Amtrak stopping to pickup CSX crew member to keep him from walking so far, amazing.

[@TheEntwydumele]

My husband was raised on Rolling Road, very near the station. Was nice to see the old area, and how it's changed, ie. the walkway over the tracks.

[@forrestcreek1598]

Wow, good catch! Never heard of a train losing two knuckles on the same train in two different locations. Thanks for the video!

[@jeffdavis13]

Great job guys. I really liked the "Gaithersburg Incidet" clip. Great layout too!

[@albagonzalez4027]

UfVd???

[@albagonzalez4027]

Udviirirhmm??190

[@Me-nh1fz]

of course people would complain ...complain about trains blocking the road, complain about semis and truckers... forgetting that without both trains and semis you would have no food, clothes, phones, shoes, jewelry, electronic devices, blah blah blah... I want the semis and trains to stop for one week and as a result we would see a big attitude change about them

[@craneinsaneusa1289]

You are so right! There isn't a single item that any truck hating American has or will purchase in their everyday lives that has or will not be delivered in a truck at one point or another. What I've noticed in the last decade, especially after the financial crash in 08, the professionalism, skill, experience and plain ol' courtesy of truck drivers went to shit! Thousands of people losing their jobs jumped to trucking for work. You can go to a truck driving school now and be on the interstate in just two weeks. What a slap in the face to the guys who came up the right way and have to drive next or stuck behind in the middle lane doing 65 in a 70. A large percentage of "professional" drivers are shit bags now and the large companies (SWIFT) allow this. The railroads know this and the railroads will one day put most truck drivers out of a job. They do it cheaper, cleaner, smarter and safer.

[@demarcusshields5567]

Thank you so much being that im a truck driver

[@CMDRFandragon]

Trucking school doesnt exactly impart a real "professional" attitude either lol. My trucking school, they literally spent more time smoking then driving or doing class time. 3 weeks of class time? Yeah, coulda been done in 3-4 days. 2 weeks of driving? Yeah, each of the 15 of us had maybe 6 hours when we were done.....the trucking school I went to straight said "were not here to teach you to drive a truck, we're here to get you your CDL". They were fun people, prolly alot of fun to hang out with, but as for "professional instructors and people who did their job well? Not at all lol.

[@raymondphillips5988]

Me 2016 I is f

[@epj3]

complain because it probably happened because the company has shitty policies and is trying to save a few dollars. The money lost from this blocking streets is likely far more than the railroad would have lost preventing it from occurring. So yea, people should be upset. Nobody owes shit to a corporation -- if one can't cut it, then we need better corporations to compete and put them out of business. Unfortunately, these companies have written competitive regulation by lining pockets of politicans. You could make the same argument for everyone in the economy. The people who operate these companies need to get to work too, nobody would have anything without them doing the boring work. The engineers who design the equipment need to get to work to improve things so we can continue to receive all those goods. The maintenance people at the railroad need to be able to get to work, so that we can receive the goods we need. The bank employee who helps the conductor get all those goods to the people, needs to be able to get to work to help the conductor mange his finances to have a place to live. This economy isn't one-sided, suck it up.

[@Corcoran09]

Nice catch!! Talk about being in the right place at the right time! Very informative example of real railroading adapting to circumstances-- must have been a bad day for the dispatcher,too. Getting video of the police officer question the engineer was a very nice, realistic touch! Keep up the great work!

[@joebob3719]

With modern freight being so long nowadays I am surprised no one has thought of making a cheap mountain bike a part of their standard equipment...

[@robertnaberhaus5319]

UP now has engines in the middle and end of the train.

[@alphonsotate2982]

It is not safe to ride a bike on the rail road there is no trail you have to do like the conductor did and a knuckle is very heavy .

[@algrayson8965]

Robert Naberhaus, no one is aboard locos in the middle or at the rear of a train. They are remote controlled from the lead engine cab.

[@KutWrite]

@@algrayson8965: Maybe he meant that it's less distance to where the extra knuckle is kept.

[@rjbowlen7662]

Great teamwork helping another crew fix their train.

[@conrailtrainman3629]

that is alwesome seeing amtrak an other csx train helping each other out, nice video

[@wishmaster642]

i bet sir toppin hat was pissed lol

[@Ligma_Balzach]

They're not being useful engines.

[@The_Lunch_Man]

I see what you did there

[@kb9vve]

adam watson troublesome trucks

[@ohioandnortheastern]

adam watson same

[@jayceconner7000]

*cross

[@fritz1218]

I own a NS knuckle coupler, and I would seriously hate having to carry it more than ten feet.

[@panzerabwerkanone]

Oh the CSX ones are much lighter! Just kidding, I have no idea!

[@garman1966]

I found one in 3 pieces one time, and yea, they're heavy as shit!

[@KutWrite]

The knuckle itself is all that's replaced. Maybe the locking pin, too. The knuckle weighs 60lb. In CSX conductor school you have to replace a knuckle the RIGHT (safe) way within 5 minutes or you don't finish the school. It's not hard if you're taught how. But, changing 2 and the involved lifting and carrying would make a good day's workout.

[@sinclairopaline]

fritz1218 0

[@ALL-bj7mj]

@@KutWrite you never had a whole coupler pulled out of a draft gear yet, have you? it will get very exciting.....

[@BoTMSapper]

Love the whisle action at 2:53 for a level crossing that is BLOCKED by the other train.. And also at 7:16 would have been a great vid to see them two trains drag race each other.

[@CSX2665]

wow i never thought of 416 ever going into emergency considering the fact ive seen it a few times but always damn short everytime i caught it on video.....

[@davidbarnett9312]

We all have had different experiences. I worked as a brakeman for the Houston & Texas Central [Southern Pacific] from the late 60s to the early 70s. I've had to deal with busted air hoses, broken knuckles, and in those days, hot boxes. I've carried that crap half way down the train, because it always seemed to happen in the middle. It was all heavy. To top it off, it always happened at night. No double tracks so I could hitch a ride. No road nearby so I could hopefully have hitched a ride. What's even worse when you consider today's technology, no communication with the engineer other than my lantern and signals. I will say that I did not keep the train blocking the line as long as the above. I got to it toot sweet [tuit suite] because those old head engineers got crabby sitting there waiting for me to do all the work. lol.

[@DrRichtoffen1]

lol, funny, its always after the first 50 cars, the problems never in those first 50...

[@MervynPartin]

Very interesting and enjoyable video with all the crew actions explained in the captions. It must have been a very long day for the crew (and you with your filming) but I am impressed by the way they handled the incident

[@brakie44820]

About not walking..If you never walked 50-60 car lengths you have no idea how far that is with those long cars it could take up to 30 minutes depending on the ground. 50-60 cars could be 1/2 mile-even using 50' cars 60 cars would be 3,000 feet. Now add the longer 52'-89' cars and that footage adds up.

[@Organgrinder1010]

That's a common courtesy, even offered sometimes by a railfan in an automobile on an adjacent road.

[@artnc4139]

Perhaps a segway would be a prudent investment

[@Blippity_Bloop64]

You gonna run that thing on trackside ballast? Also, a Segway is all about balance. Try balancing one of those knuckles on one of those machines

[@artnc4139]

bigfatmouth - I’m pretty sure Segway would design a custom version if they were approached by the railroad industry. It could be a huge market

[@michaelf6232]

I once knew a conductor who used a small dirt bike if he had to inspect his train and would chain it up to the railing of the loco when not in use!!!!!

[@badandy102]

Good thing for the double track for rides back and forth instead of walking each time

[@EskimoJoe492]

When the couplers break, the attached airlines separate as well. This loss of air pressure is dramatic and kicks in to shut the train down which alerts the crew.

[@IndianaNorthWestern]

one thing : CSX. I think I'm done here.

[@donaldparlettjr3295]

just a little information the rails are on private property and the police have no jurisdiction. If the train breaks down tough patooties. Most of these trains are 9000 feet long that's 1 3/4 miles to those who have to hoof it. So trouble shooting takes time and lugging tools is no fun. So thank an engineer when you see this person.

[@Jhnnymck4]

Years ago a conductor was given a ticket for blocking TOO many crossings in Lafayette IN.

[@ironmatic1]

J. McKinley It's not like the crew can choose were the train goes into emergency.

[@Jhnnymck4]

The situation in Lafayette Indiana , was not an emergency...sorry I did not include that info. in my first reply!

[@ironmatic1]

J. McKinley The train was most likely in emergency, or something was happening farther down the tracks. No engineer wound intentionally block a crossing.

[@dupester1954]

They can issue all the tickets that they want, the RR is governed by Federal law. If the RR is obeying Federal law, local or state law doesn't apply.

[@101rightman]

In Canada you would have to walk your ass with coupler on your back to get the problem fixed and you would get no help.I would say this guy is lucky to get all this help.

[@25mfd]

+Sean b if your comment is true, that is very sad indeed. Why wouldn't a rail help another rail? Especially in a situation such as this. Now I will admit this guy is LUCKY to have all of these trains passing him at just the right moment. I would tell him to go play the lottery but he wasted all of his luck hopping rides to and fro changing out those busted knuckles.

[@101rightman]

time is money and some times they help each other out

[@101rightman]

Big back back man and lean it into you

[@osmoon]

@lailasalas Trains use an air brake system. When air pressure is removed brakes are activated. So, if a coupler is broken the air brake pipe will be broken too, causing both sides of the train to enter into emergency braking (since air pressure drops). This is also the same brake system used in big trucks, which is way safer than the brake system in standard cars (which will not work if the brake pipe is broken).

[@marsh2202]

What a wonderful job, the coordination between the train crews to get the conductor down and back, ect. was done in such a great manner. I would hate to carry a knuckle down to the break site.

[@jimholder6656]

Well explained and well done!

[@pdxrailtransit]

Well done, nicely edited.

[@ERA3733]

No. When a knuckle breaks, what actually breaks is the Knuckle Pin that pivots the Knuckle from open to closed. The two couplers part, and the Air Line stretches until the Gladhands part, thus sending the brakes into Emergency, bringing the train to a stop. The two sections may collide, they may derail, but it isn't very likely.

[@johnjcoxiii9401]

Congratulations to the Videographer, Photographer and Editor for an excellent presentation. Perhaps some of the entitled and clueless fellow citizens out there learned a little something about the real world.......but, since I am 81 years old, I doubt that very much. the Old Coastie

[@mmi16]

Not all locations are accesable by off track means. With knuckles being approximately 75 pounds each, it would not be safe for a counductor to 'hump' a knuckle from a off track point to where it was needed, which of necessity would be several hundred feet even under optimum circumstances.

[@TankCrusher210]

Westinghouse brakes. Essentially, brakes are applied by reducing air pressure in the brake pipes, and released by increasing it. That way, it works as a failsafe. When the train separated, the brake hoses between the cars broke as well, dumping all of the air pressure, stopping both ends of the train.

[@robertgift]

Nice catch! Thank you also for your informative captions explaining what happened and what was happening. 1. Why did they not back up and clear that grade crossing? Would they be blocking another crossing? Railroad should be fined for closing that street so long. 2. Why did you not walk to the separation and video it and what they were doing? 3. Engineer to be blamed for poor train handling causing the knuckle failures? Thank you.

[@kleetus92]

Separation yes, derailment usually not. They will separate, pull the air line and stop. From the head end, all you know is you're stopped by emergency application, but no idea until you walk back and see what's up.

[@MrGerbilBrain]

The train will jolt forward a bit from the smaller load behind the engines when the couploer breaks. Also, if the cars separate enough, the brake hose will be ripped apart, causing a loss in brake pressure, which applys the brakes... The engineer has a brake pressure gauge in the cab.

[@sjtom57]

I don't usually enjoy slow moving vids but that was interesting.

[@Complex_51]

awwwwww csx and amtrack love :)

[@777Abrams]

No immediate derailment, but what would happen for sure is when the couplers brake, the cars seperate and that the air hoses disconnect, that causes a drop in air pressure and any drop in pressure causes the brakes to automaticlly apply. If the brakes on the loose cars dont apply, they could either derail or just coast to a stop. Does that answer your question?

[@trainmanjosair]

They wouldn't know if a coupler broke but, if the pressure in the air line drops, the locomotive will automatically put the train in emergency brake application.

[@Cnw8701]

HOLY CRAP! That former Conrail SD60M has a NICE hybrid RS3L!

[@FrmrVolFire]

That depends on several factors. Speed of the train, number and weight of cars on either side of the seperation point, If the front part of the train stops and gets hit by the back part of the train.

[@CTK1201]

I have seen trains on this CSX Met Sub (westbounds) - both mixed freight and coal - go by so slow that I would be anticipating on a stall out. Eastbound trains roll by good through here.

[@fiddlerpin]

I actually carried a broken knuckle over a mile and a half out of the abandoned boston and maine rr up at Frankenstein trestle in New Hampshire for a souvenier . Believe me I know.

[@algrayson8965]

fiddlerpin, I've tried to pay for artifacts from RRs. Each time they say, "Since you were decent enough to ask, don't worry about it. It would cost the company more to handle payment for a few pounds of steel than it's worth." Or something of that sort. I've been given four 1-1/2' pieces of cut-off bolt sections of rail (wonderful anvils), several 1/4" - 1/2" cutoffs, other minor (to the RR) items just because I asked instead of just grabbing them.

[@TG626]

I still maintain that a train should be require to sound it's horn in a consistent pattern at all grade crossings. It worked for 100+ years.

[@PainesvilleRailfans]

you couldnt say it any better myself, 3.5 hour delay, sounds like CSX. amazing catch my friend.

[@blown503]

A lot of time hoses rub the street surface and cause the train to go into emergency. Sometimes when they go into emergency it causes other problems especially deep in the train closer to the rear end where knuckles break from an emergency application.

[@mrs2691]

Also, on a lot of modern trains, the computer would have locked out operation of the train until the problem was solved.

[@UKTransportVideos]

Air is pumped down the train in a pipe to RELEASE the brakes. If a knuckle brakes and the train separates the pipe will also separate and the air will be lost in the system. This means brakes on both parts of the train will apply, bringing both parts to a stop. There should be no reason why a broken coupler should cause a derailment.

[@kubus1051]

In U.S.A you have got cool trains

[@petermasterson8276]

Some of them are warm.Depends on the weather.

[@Handlesarestoopid]

@@petermasterson8276 not what he meant.

[@wakecountyproductions]

I just noticed that all the trains in this video are powered by all DC locomotives...

[@jbreezy101]

The monitoring system reacts within 1/10 of a second. Safety features disable the train until the problem is solved. The air brakes engage on every car within a second, keeping the train intact. Knuckles break but they don't necessarily separate. Furthermore, most defunct knuckles are inspected and found in the yard.

[@Videoguy2129]

When a Knuckle Breaks the cars Do separate and the air hoses connecting the two cars also break away. Thus dumping the Air pressure Thus sending the train into Emergency. The possibility of derailment is slim. I hope this answers your question

[@mikecruickshanks9615]

I will never be able to get back that part of my life I spent watching this.Gripping!

[@robertgift]

[ "The[y] could not have backed up. Too dangerous plus see above." ] Thank you. What is dangerous about backing up? If the conductor at the rear end of the train has radio contact with the engineer, he can clear backing enough for the locomotive to open the grade crossing. Getting the street usable for the public, and fire and EMS, is far more important than any fine. Reconnecting the brake hoses and pressurizing the train would allow the computer to enable operation.

[@malcolmburns6104]

Thats what happens when you take cabooses off and cut down to two man crews..What if they had been out in the middle of nowhere with no other trains to help carry the conductor and knuckles..If you think a knuckle is heavy try carrying a drawhead that far...they also break.

[@vmbi5213]

Actually, after identifying the problem as being knuckles, all the conductor has to do is tell the engineer the model needed and the engineer will drop it on the ground. Then the conductor just has to ride the car with the broken knuckle all the way up to the new up, pick it up, fix one and put the other one on the car and ride back to the other car.

[@mrs2691]

No, the brakes would automatically apply on emergency. The reason the guy went out with a hose at first is because he didn't know what happened. He didn't hit the brakes, the train did.

[@cvgeeps]

One of those days when it had to suck to work on the railroad.

[@ffjsb]

It depends on what the tanker is used for. Many carry non hazardous liquids like corn syrup.

[@t.t.6398]

For all you arm chair conductors out there I'd LOVE to see any of you carry not one but TWO knuckles back 60+ cars then change the damn things by yourself! Those damn things are like 80lbs. a piece! Also you do know that the railroad OWNS the land right? The state and government don't! That means the road that crosses the rails are done so at the discretion of the railroad. So basiclly tough shit if it's blocked. Those railroad tracks were there before the roads were and they'll be there after the roads are gone, deal with it.

[@reginald2004]

Get engineer to drop off as many knuckles as needed if you have them. Turn anglecock. Wait for air to come up. Get engineer to pull you up to the knuckles. Load them on car you're riding on. Get ride back to joint. Repeat as necessary. Meanwhile crossing can be cleared each time.

[@NotSoCrazyNinja]

Not all rail lines were there before the roads. In my area, there are roads crossing the tracks that were there before the rails were placed. Of course, those roads were originally wagon trails which eventually turned into roads. As for the right to block intersections, stuff happens. There are always ways around. Not too long ago, all three signals in a town near me (only three signals in the whole town) malfunctioned and got stuck "on" for several hours. All three intersections were blocked for hours. In this case, drivers had to go about five miles to the next crossing.

[@KutWrite]

+Reginald: That's how they taught us to do it. Train drops conductor with 2 knuckles & pins (60 lb each, BTW), pulls up last operative car to conductor. He loads knuckles on & gets onto last car & rides it back. All this time, your moves are protected by the rest of your (dead) standing train. Conductor gets off with both knuckles at the first break. First fix the joint closest to the head end. Hook 'em up, pump up the air. Conductor stays off while the engineer pulls the now longer string of cars up to where the conductor is. He rides back to the 2nd break, fixes it, hooks 'em up, pump up & test the air. THEN he can ride a 2nd train back up to the head end. Now his train continues West. Probably would've saved an hour or more that way. My guess is, a dispatcher was being "helpful" by setting it up this way.

[@Rayray-zu1hd]

Terry Tiell you sound like a little bitch Trainmaster wannabe

[@blumac9801]

Terry Tiell yes, CSX owns most of the railroad that they go on...

[@junkdeal]

Air goes down the train pipe, charges the air tanks on every car. As long as the air tank and train pipe are the same pressure, no brakes are on. If you deplete air from the train pipe, brakes go on according to the pressure differential. Air tank supplies brake power. All these functions control through what used to, anyway, be called the triple valve. Westinghouse invented this and made air brakes work well. If no air is in the tanks the car(s) could roll away. Brakes come off. Not like semis.

[@AbhorsenMogget]

It can result in separation, including the break airlines, which causes the trains breaks to automatically apply. As far as derailment, nope. Not unless the train is going at such a speed that the second section slams into the first at a significant speed

[@rgwheeler3450]

I'm going to assume its like trucks with air brakes. When the knuckle lets go it pulls off the air lines to the brakes, when the brakes lose air pressure the emergency brakes apply.

[@WeldinMike27]

The air pressure is released from the trians system and that applies the brakes.

[@DGererationX]

congrats to the conductors for stopping to fix knuckles so the train doesn't derailed or anything like that it could've been worst

[@JerryLaw]

well when it break it will take out/ disconnect the break line if there is no air in the break cylinder the break will apply. most train's break are design this way.

[@oaklandsdad]

also, thanx for the great overhead view, I needed it to weather the top of some of my diesels!

[@jamesrivis620]

Awesome incident record and great how one train assists another. Hope there was another way around for the townsfolk.

[@donnyschlosser3236]

JAMES Rivis the best way is for the engineer to put the right knuckle on the ground pulls the train forward put the knuckle on then shove back to the train

[@jaylaahs.mp3456]

Oh so that's the train that wakes me up at like 3 am

[@Cnw8701]

They primarily use DPU's on their coal trains and some of their long-distance intermodals.

[@mrs2691]

1. You can't back up - the train is no longer connected, would be very dangerous. Railroad probably was fined, but the location of the stop was not preventable. As for number 3, it depends on the cause of the knuckle failure, but from what I saw in the video, it probably wasn't the engineers fault.

[@alpha4005]

the train wouldn't derail. only that portion of cars would break away and eventually stop via their brakes. The engineer and conductor are notified if the ETD(end of train device) gets beyond a predetermined distance range.

[@angelmalarkey7946]

Wow the train is siting their all day

[@Creeperboy099]

It seams like CSX is notorious for breaking couplers

[@Howard1939]

If that train had a DPU as most western trains have, it's unlikely (Not-impossible) that a broken coupler would have caused any delay, as one of the reasons for DPU, is to keep long & heavy trains bunched up & together, placing less strain on couplers..

[@GWAYGWAY1]

If these couplings break I am very surprised that it is not more common especially the weight and length of the trains you run over there, hundreds of trucks must put a huge strain on the coupling at the front and the engines.

[@nlo114]

I've been to Gaithersburg when I was working at Rockville. Nothing as exciting as this happened, although there was a lightning/thunder/snowstorm the like of which I have never seen before.

[@dragondancer1814]

I grew up nearby, over in northern Prince George’s County, and I remember seeing/hearing thundersnow when I was a kid. Freaked me out too, since thunder and lightning in a snowstorm is pretty unusual-I’d never even _heard_ of thundersnow before! At first I wondered what was up when I saw the lightning, like “What is going on here?” and then when I heard the thunder crack overhead a few seconds later, I noped right into the house!

[@Crazytrainkid]

Huh, this happened not to long ago, for me on the Riverline. Right in front of the crossing. Also the day I missed an Southern Pacific.

[@ThomasWLalor]

Damn!! That is so cool. Never heard of anything like that, but it just makes sense that it could happen. Thanks for sharing.

[@kjrehberg]

Rail is efficient, but when it has a problem, that problem is BIG.

[@bryan2523]

What a long wait for the cross traffic.

[@WorldOfNothin]

They do, but you have to think this is probably a 1/2 mile up to a mile long train easily!!! checking every coupler and air hose for problems takes time!!! and to replace a coupler your talking about carrying an 80 pound piece of steel over that distances!!! if the guy was getting rides from passing trains, he is lucky not having to walk all that distance several times lol

[@adzam1942]

What I wonder is why they can't uncouple a car beyond intersection by closing off the brake hose of car on the crossing and then clear the crossing until couplers on other failed cars are replaced?

[@250krawler]

Lucky conductor to have it break where it did and get help from passing trains.

[@UFO4X]

You were in the right place at the right time! Nice catch!

[@nxtyrjrslm]

Actually super video, thanks!!

[@elizabetabelic7146]

Its the thing that couples two rail cars, or locomotives to each other. kinda like a trailer and a trailer hitch.

[@srm3006]

When a knucle breaks on a train, the air hoses connecting the two cars get seperated, putting the train in emergency brake. and no, the train would not derail under most curcumstances in the event of a broken knuckle

[@fr8hauler]

Choo Choo Train!!! YAYYYYYYYYYY!!! I waved at it!!! YAYYYYYY!!!!! He beeped the horn on the choo choo!!! YAYYYYYYYY!!!! Signed, Special Ed

[@Gdddghhrwscbkjgesdcc]

Would an air hose failing in the back of the train then cause the knuckles to break loose due to the drag of the emergency brakes on those cars?

[@neilforbes416]

What should've been happening is that the diesel locos should've reversed back to a nearby passing loop(pushing the train) in order to not block the rail crossing. Repairs could've been carried out at the passing loop instead of the severe inconvenience caused to the people and businesses of that town.

[@anderberger]

why would it derail ? the knuckle is just the device that allows train cars to couple together and when knuckle breaks the cars disconnect and so do the air hoses and that cause the train to go into emergency and stops the train and the engineer cant do a thing about it

[@mow4ncry]

good thing it was double track, or would have been a long back up.

[@alphonsotate2982]

Yes very long

[@ffjsb]

After looking at the video again, there's no placard on the car, (which is not necessarily a guarantee) so it's unlikely to have Haz-Mat. And it's owned or leased by Darling Int'l, which means it's probably hauling food or animal by-products.

[@Handlesarestoopid]

Carry a coupler??!! I'd rather carry an artillery shell. And why is the officer telling them to hurry up. THEY'RE REPAIRING A TRAIN NOT A NERF GUN

[@HellzNord]

Would be funny if someone at the crossing was like, "F*ck this" and went up to another crossing right before they got it fixed and got caught at the crossing again haha

[@patsematary]

in the meantime people thinking about advantages of "underpass" instead of "level crossing"

[@empcom1]

Great Story Guy's Keep up the good Work.

[@Cnw8701]

#8727 has a VERY nice-sounding RS3L!

[@RailfanTurner]

Was the MARC train delayed that day? Terrific catches!

[@011dave]

was interesting the way the incident was dealt with and i agree i would not want to carry a coupler knuckle more than 10 feet but must add why could the engineer have split the train and cleared the crossing while the problem was dealt with

[@U2sBassist]

+Yamaha SR650 +Milburn Hornback & any anyone else wondering why the train didn't clear the crossing: as a resident of this area, and a lifelong railfan, I have been to this crossing many times, but most local residents avoid this road and this crossing at this hour anyway because of the multitude of Freight, AMTRAK, and MARC trains that use this line, it is a major hub from WV, PA and points north & west of Washington DC. also, for local traffic convenience, there are 2 bridges over these lines within 1 mile of this crossing, overall not an inconvenient detour.

[@tyvulpintaur2732]

U2sBassist Maybe not, but just to get to 355 (Frederick Ave), you'd have to go west down the road, turn right onto another street (can't remember name of it), come out across from the county fairgrounds and try to turn right onto a fairly busy street and then finally reach 355. Summitt Ave is the most direct route to 355 from there. And I'm guessing why the conductor didn't move forward is because it's such a long way back to where the first problem was that if he did move, he'd end up blocking the crossing next to the fairgrounds or the crossing by the MVA.

[@U2sBassist]

There's a level crossing by the fairgrounds, yes, but to get to 355, you can simply cut through Brookes Ave/Walker Ave, or use the Deer Park Dr bridge, both of which are close by. My point is simply that there are several ways around that crossing, it's not like the entire city was cut off from itself for those 3 hours

[@tyvulpintaur2732]

U2sBassist Nods I know, I lived in MontCo for 29 years (good times ^^ so want to go back and visit hehe). Just not Rockville Pike in rush hour....