Horseshoe Curve (Altoona PA) Derailment - July 5, 2019

At approximately 8:40 PM on July 5, 2019, a westbound train ascending the Horseshoe Curve in Altoona, PA derailed. Fortunately, no one was injured during the event.
This drone video shows the aftermath of the derailment as seen the following morning. Rail traffic on the Horseshoe Curve was able to continue via the one unobstructed track.

[@DavRHill]

Thanks for putting this up. Incredible viewpoint.

[@charlesdell2864]

Excellent Drone video, Thank you for posting. You gain a whole new prospective seeing derailment from above.

[@David_B_Dornburg]

So essentially it looks like the lightweight cars (yellow) were pulled off the track by the heavier cars behind them as the train went around the curve?

[@57Wolve]

They call that straightlining and that's exactly what it looks like to me.

[@focusfrenzy9759]

@@57Wolve yep, someone gave just a bit to much throttle.

[@timothystevenhoward]

I've experienced this on a model railroad before! :(

[@2008Bicknell]

"Stringlining" Not the engineers fault but the one who is responsible for make up of train. The essence of Hunter Harrison continues on. Too long of a train with the empties on the drawbar. These trains are getting ridiculously too long and more of this will continue to happen if run this way.

[@jacquesblaque7728]

It seems those center-beam flats were pulled over and then took a few more, tanks and covered hoppers. This stringlining phenomenon has received long study, with resultant guidance as to what's permissible/advisable for train makeup, based on track curvature to be encountered. Still "oopsies" make it out on the road. Shoot the trainmaster.

[@pegallen6983]

I watched the video of the train coming up the hill on the Horseshoe Curve live webcam. You can hear a loud bang and then a few seconds later a series of bangs and then the 3 engines come into camera view and carry on up the mountain as if nothing happened. I personally think the coupler connection came lose and the cars being empty just lost the track and flipped which is probably the best case scenario rather than the heavier cars pulling the train back down the mountain and more cars being lost and the accident being more serious

[@timholmes7913]

Beautiful shot, thanks very much

[@thumpershd]

Excellent overview! Great footage.

[@lancelotdufrane]

Great Drone work.

[@kenlindsay9681]

Excellent Narrator, good video

[@davidpulaski5628]

Amazing what high res drones and a good pilot can do these days. Kudos on an excellent video. But damn, tell me that doesn't look like a model RR!!! Hell, my rolling stock trucks & wheels come apart just like that. LOL! BTW, DJI quad?

[@dstdrones480]

Yes, I was flying a DJI Phantom 4v2. Thank you for the kind words, and yes, I thought the same thing, it looks like a model railroad wreck from up here!

[@kingfordism]

You should do a video and show what MG tower and interlocking looks like now

[@dstdrones480]

I would very much like to, I just haven't found a good place in range of MG where I can legally launch from.

[@kingfordism]

@@dstdrones480 Figured that, that is a hard place to access. Awesome videos you have!

[@tact86]

Great video, Thanks!!

[@carrieslantern9224]

The railroad clean up crew seems to have cleared the track really fast. If I'm not mistaken less than 24 hour's after the de-railment.

[@lancelotdufrane]

Why?.....cause?..... years of effective use.....what causes this?....

[@1575murray]

This train definitely wasn't made up correctly the heaviest cars should be in the front closer to the locomotives.

[@johnmaloney265]

i always wonder why they put lightweight cars in middle of train instead of end ,

[@omega7b948]

Those wew the front cars of the train not the middle, thats even worse and the front 11 cars out of i think 140 derailed

[@fjordfarming]

The Carrier will never admit that this is a "blocking error". It is diffidently an error by the crew and poor train handling. The Carrier will search extensively for a way to burn the crew.

[@thomasdupee1440]

@@fjordfarming I don't see how there could have been an error by the crew. The crew isn't responsible for train make-up.

[@fjordfarming]

@@thomasdupee1440 If you worked for the carrier you would understand the sarcasm and truth in my comments.

[@thomasdupee1440]

@@fjordfarming I definitely understand, but my response was directed to those who don't. But you're so right. Always try to find a way to blame the crew...

[@rudyvalle9022]

I’ve seen a number of incidents with centerbeam cars off the track. Is it a design flaw?

[@b3j8]

Yeah it kinda is. High-centered, lighter weight car especially w/no load. Not surprised these went over.

[@sdrailproductions]

What a mess, excellent work

[@ksrailfan1008]

Incredible

[@mccoy79productions66]

Beautiful

[@robiscrupe7694]

I was watching the live feed al day today watched the cleanup from beginning to end but there is still working on the track now

[@vistalite-ph4zw]

Those center beam cars are dangerous top heavy, lightweight, and debris flying off of them all the time

[@nobillclinton]

beautiful Altoona.

[@Raptorman0909]

Interesting that so many of the cars lost there wheels, almost like the wheels and axles are only held in place by gravity.

[@bobsmith9947]

Um..because they are

[@Raptorman0909]

@@bobsmith9947 -- Learn something new everyday.

[@johnmaloney265]

who is putting cars back on track hulcher or corman

[@MrMark85044]

Both from what I heard.

[@MrMark85044]

@Joe Madej what happened in MI?

[@gregwhitney8820]

The derailed cars from the two July 2019 accidents were shoved to the side of the tracks. NS finished cutting them up and removing them in early June 2020. Virtual Railfan has a You Tube video.

[@hyperu2]

It was hot, train was tired, took a nap.

[@brucybabyy7355]

it happens.

[@johnstafford4304]

too light of load between two sets of heavyweights. this will clearly slow traffic going to Galitzen and Altoona there no other tracks in that area that could bypass Altoona

[@clinttheweldor2653]

Why would you put a string of empty lumber cars at the head end of a consist? Just asking for problems.

[@JohnR.1968]

Nice coverage good thing there was not a train next to it Would have been a real mess

[@REVELLO608]

WOW

[@sd40-2railfan3]

Watch the live stream from the derailment on #VirtualRailfan

[@thomasschreiber1028]

You can see that aerial shot of the building where the live stream camera is, that locomotive on display

[@taslimchaudhry1431]

Excellent. 🇮🇳

[@worldbestpilot]

As Forrest Gump said: "Shit happens" ...

[@tatinist]

Pienso que esos vagones amarillos ,no son lo suficientemente pesados, por lo cual viven descarrilados permanentemente

[@lancelotdufrane]

Feels very much like the Washington State event......

[@wkmpellucid]

Nice job.

[@Barteaurailarchives96]

Ah shoot, my model train derailed

[@kathyd8738]

Wow, well done

[@truckbusandplanespotting5708]

O m gosh 😲

[@greynolds17]

never knew the trucks and wheels werent held on by anything except gravity....put empties in the rear kids!

[@drippinglass]

I’m gonna get on my 1970 Schwinn Grape Krate and ride there from Philly.

[@keithbender4054]

wow you have the grape crate. iIad the apple crate around 1970 as well. They have a pea picker in our bike shop hanging up. Can't believe i use to do jumps with that and was small enough to even ride it which btw, was big for me at the time.

[@jamescarryl9690]

Somebody goofed?? Now where's the Mighty Finger Pointers?? Hey could have been a lot worse, or even deadly. Thank God it wasn't.

[@philliplee980]

dang very cool video.

[@manga12]

well that would cause quite a delay the curve is one of the buissiest streaches of rail in the world

[@3006USMC]

Get down to track level...!!!!

[@johnvargo5695]

Illegal to do so, per FAA rules.

[@dstdrones480]

@@johnvargo5695 I tried to stay about 100 meters above the track as not to distract the workers.

[@johnvargo5695]

Oh I'm not faulting you DST. Just passing on a little info for 30ot6 about our responsibility requirements about flying an accident. He seemed frustrated, but safety first.

[@dstdrones480]

@@johnvargo5695 Sorry, meant to to reply to 3006USMC.