TRAIN ON FIRE!!! BNSF RAILWAY DPU catches fire in Tehachapi! Full Video with footage of firefight !!

On Sept 28th we had an unexpected diesel locomotive catch fire and we just happened to be in the right location at the right time to capture this rare sight!
This happened in Keene CA, roughly 13 miles northwest of Tehachapi Ca.
Thanks to the swift response of the railroad and Kern fire department the 4 small spot fires created by this locomotive were all extinguished very quickly.
I hope everyone enjoys this footage!

[@bertholtappels1081]

I have no idea why KZbin put this in my feed. But I am happy it did - this is fantastic material. High definition, clear framing, excellent audio, no music, no unnecessary narration. You were at the right place at the right time and did the right thing with the opportunity.

[@OldCarsAreFun]

Its so good I thought the fire was fake for a moment in the start. Weird looking fire

[@danyf3116]

@@OldCarsAreFun When something is filmed in 4K, it almost makes it look like a video game. It sure was impressive to see.

[@weasel6535]

For me it is Korean boy bands, I am 57, never watched a boy band in my life so who knows eh.

[@baldguyadventure]

@@OldCarsAreFun I thought the exact same thing!

[@chiro-quack-tor2108]

No wonder my package was late...

[@peteacher52]

No stupid "music", no crappy commentary going for sensation rather than factual reporting and no "Look at meee" ego trips. Well done!

[@LOD365]

Exactly. I can’t stand social media with all the narcissism.

[@michaelp.Watermaker]

Indeed! Many thanks!

[@nq5932]

Amen brother

[@KC-nd7nt]

I second that my good man .

[@robertwest3093]

Exactly! It seems as if the channels with low subscriber counts are the more professionally done videos.

[@dolrr54]

I was a machinist for BNSF Railroad for 36 years. What causes this problem is usually dirty fuel filters.

[@CobraEmergency]

This was so well captured by you. Great shot of the actual loco fire itself, then the fire department response.

[@treetopflyer8952]

Whoever captured all this deserves an award.

[@ffjsb]

Award for WHAT??

[@RRphotographer661]

Thank you!

[@nullifiednullifidian5973]

@@ffjsb In a world filled with CGI and fake action, just occasionally, we get something that isn't staged for entertainment. This is one of those moments, captured live without rehearsal and fakery. We have here excellent drone footage and good follow-up, giving us the complete story of a real event.

[@ffjsb]

@@nullifiednullifidian5973 Um, there are dozens of videos of locomotives spitting fire out the exhaust stack... You act like you've never seen a video of a mechanical problem..

[@nullifiednullifidian5973]

@@ffjsb Suit yourself, have fun taking people down with your negativity. Life must be great for you when all you have is derision for others, I'm sure that'll work out well.

[@johnwebb7795]

EXCELLENT video . Nice that you can hear the actual sounds and not have to listen to some crazy music

[@oriolesfan7807]

The best part.

[@cliffords.8341]

One could say that was music to my ears. 😁

[@dancer1]

Is there a mic on the drone?

[@denniseft6460]

Or play by play announcer.

[@cliffords.8341]

@@denniseft6460 Thanks for putting that thought in my head. 😳😁 Happy New Year!

[@reggiekenner1527]

Gee...two things I've done in my life. A Santa Fe-BNSF engineer over the Tehachapis for 27 years and a crew chief on a Huey for most of three. Given my choice, I'd love to fly in that machine again. We used to see it on the pad near Woodford (Keene) all the time. My guess, for the locomotive, was turbo oil seal. Been there.

[@missingremote4388]

Would have seen the rear-end smoke when they hit the Tehachapi LOOP

[@Adventuradict88]

Does the seal brokedown and Let the oil out and burn by the heat of the exhaust?

[@markprice1984]

Thanks for the diagnosis, Reggie. I've always wondered why you see locomotives spit fire occasionally.

[@HustleMuscleGhias]

It appears that they were able to drop this particular unit down to an idle speed which indicates that it is some other cause which I'm going to assume is something related to fuel injection. My experience with diesels of any type is that when the turbo seal goes bad is that it will continue belching black smoke and flames and the RPM will be running at full blast until the oil pan is completely devoid of oil and the engine locks up. There wasn't enough black smoke to be a turbo fire.

[@vaughnmcmillan8400]

I had guessed a fuel leak somewhere, but yours makes more sense cuz it was localized right up through the stack, and when the doors were opened up, no visible sign of fire having engulfed the engine.

[@tritiumlabs373]

1.great video, no unnecessary narration, no dumb music, nothing, just pure high quality content 2. That train was absolutely booking it at the beginning Edit: oh shit I just realized it was on 2x speed my bad lol

[@AllianceB95]

When you go from: Will it be clickbait ??? to WAAAAUW WHAT GREAT FOOTAGE. Honest video with the real deal as a documentary ! Well done sir and fantastic video! Thanks for this honest and beautyfull video! Kind regards from the other side of the ocean the Netherlands, Bjorn

[@RRphotographer661]

Glad you enjoyed it !

[@MojaveSubMatthew]

Wonderful work on this film! You’ve done a masterful piece of storytelling here without saying a word in the video and barely anything in the description. Had me, and judging by the comments, a lot of other people absolutely hooked. Great work by Kern County Fire Department as well! Unfortunately this sight is somewhat common on the mountain. There’s a gigantic burn scar in the tunnel 2/Allard area that i’m told was ignited by a similar incident with a rear DPU loco just a few months back.

[@celiabatista9578]

0

[@Z4Zander]

Reasonably common occurrence on GE locomotives.Turbocharger oil feed leakage.Think they would have sorted the problem by now.

[@GCHatSCHOOL]

​@Z4Zander Just a question- do you know if there is any guidance from GE to check this at a certain hourly benchmark for leakage? Just curious- I'm a supply chain management student, and seeing as the quantity of freight being moved by rail is substantial, this seems like it would be a failure of process to enforce inspections for leakage. But then again, there's always catastrophic failure and like you said it's strange there has been no retrofit/redesign.

[@Z4Zander]

@@GCHatSCHOOL No I don't know if GE have any processes in place.I have recently retired from being a heavy diesel mechanic on earth moving equipment.Although we get turbo failures like these, generally not as many or as bad as the engine and exhaust are near the operator and they pick up problems before they get too far.I have seen a lot of fire damaged GE's on videos whereas GMD(Progressive-CAT) don't seem to suffer as many.My biggest claim to fame is I love large diesel engines in any size,shape or colour.

[@GCHatSCHOOL]

@@Z4Zander Oh I gotcha! I see a lot of these types of videos that have popped up and occasionally somebody who has worked on them has chimed in on the problems, which is good information in my opinion. I too have a love for diesels, but mine came from working on fishing boats in Alaska. I spent a lot of time on vessels under 95 feet, so Cat 3208, Cat 343, and Cat 346s are kinda my favs- give me mechanical engines vs digital engines any day of the week! I drove a lot of purse seine skiffs too, and still think the Cummings 6bt and 4bt engines are one of the most durable motors ever(God knows how many times I've ran crappy fuel from a tender through an already dead filter trying to finish a set in rough weather). Anyhow, I seem to notice more and more of the burn marks, which leads me to believe(and I think rightfully so) that maintaining assets like engines has taken a back seat to short term profitability. Sad, you know?

[@spaguettoltd.7933]

It's so funny and heartwarming to see all the surprised kudos for the filmmaker here. This is one of the best railfanning vids I've seen in a long time, and it's really cool that so many people outside of the community get to watch it!

[@The_DuMont_Network]

There is no film involved other than that left over from the spilled oil. The creator recorded and edited this with electronic cameras and video processing equipment. None of that stuff with the holes down the side was involved at all.

[@RICDirector]

Still great footage! Lolololol

[@andyk192]

​@@The_DuMont_NetworkOh really? I don't think anyone here actually realized that. I'm glad you were able to clear that up for all of us. What would we do without you!

[@jimforbes9119]

I was in the Roosevelt WA garbage yard one night when a BNSF double came thru east bound with the second engine pouring a LOT of smoke. When I radioed them I have never seen a train stop so fast. Later, in the Pasco yard they found a missing oil cap allowing oil to spew out and burn.

[@vaughnmcmillan8400]

Oops, somebody must've got a peepee wacking for forgetting that oil cap! 😮

[@zyglo9826]

This incident ended with minimal damage because it was nearly a best case scenario. The fire was discovered and reported promptly by a spectator. It took place near a populated area served by a well equipped fire department, which was on the scene quickly with well-trained personnel and had a helicopter available to do water drops. If it had been in a remote, inaccessible location, the outcome might have been quite different.

[@foxtrot312]

I wonder who picked up the 25k + tab for helicopter to respond?

[@paveltolz6601]

@@foxtrot312 Kern County no doubt. Its their bird. Whether BNSF gets an invoice is up to the county.

[@JM-sl9ql]

I used to live in Tehachapi. Kern County has helicopters to fight wildfires in the area. Used to watch them train at night in the mountains.

[@schnooka0078]

'Best case, and we'll trained'? Typical L.I.B.E.R.A.L. answer. Be safe our there kiddies

[@RICDirector]

Schnook..imagine that train in NorCal canyons......thats anyting BUT best case. Be thankful for small favors, could have been much worse.

[@JackieontheTrunk]

One of the very few KZbin videos where one expects the viewer is short-changed as compared to the headline. Some great material! First, drone images. Then helicopter fire service. Then fire equipment and personnel. Wow.

[@rogerb5615]

A couple decades ago, a similar incident occurred with a loco on rail in the southern part of Orlando FL. An entire lumberyard was burnt to the ground, along with surroinding buildings. No injuries, but major financial loss.

[@ltipst2962]

The amount of effort that went into that potential wildfire was superb. Superb.

[@MostafaMansoori]

Amazing footage, that's great how the firefighters were able to contain the fire quickly from spreading into a major wildfire. 🔥🔥

[@user-sd2ck4fk5s]

Пожарные профи

[@digimaks]

Yes, its rare. Usually they screw up letting fire spread into several dozen acres.

[@philsalvatore3902]

They were lucky it wasn't windy that day. It frequently is up there.

[@TheSynthnut]

Amazing catch! I really think this demonstrates a glaring hole in single manning. Given the obvious lack of rearward vision or fault warning, a bare minimum would be a reappraisal of the telemetry requirements.

[@Kevin19700]

Absolutely spot on

[@leechjim8023]

They certainly should have telemetry, plus some video feed of potential problem areas.

[@chester8420]

The train has plenty of money and they don't care about anyone else.

[@jdhrap]

What does single manning have to do with blown turbo on DP engine?

[@ffjsb]

@@leechjim8023 How's that going to work in the mountains with zero cell capability??

[@TheChitownpete]

Well done ! No stupid music, just real sounds in real time. Excellent.

[@textig061]

Well done, averted a wildfire, great footage, Kudos to You and the Fire Dept professional job! Saved millions in repairs and destruction to the environment!

[@wideawaketotruth5301]

Good job creating this video. I do like original sound so much more than other nonsense. Watching these guys that are clearly professional handle business. Quite encouraging to see this level of competence coming from the men doing their job! Well done 👍

[@johncamp2567]

One of the most interesting train videos you’ll ever see!!

[@MrFreddarama]

Amazing footage! Subscribed and love how you put this video together. No useless commentary, music, or other crap. Thanks and keep up the good work.

[@LotusbandicootRR]

Not just the right place at the right time... but also some great shots and overall coverage of everything. Scary stuff, but nice to see so well documented.

[@philschaad6693]

Superb documentary video!

[@trainfreakrailfanningprodu2889]

That's something you don't see everyday! Very cool catch! - Jason

[@mitchellyardanoff4666]

I wouldn't say a fire is cool.

[@davida1hiwaaynet]

Amazing video! Looks like a lube oil control issue, probably a turbocharger problem..... or could have been uncontrolled fuel from a damaged injector. Regardless - very impressive exhaust fire! Also kudos to the firemen who took care of it, and the technicians who got it up and going again.

[@denverbraughler3948]

There appears to be oil on the roof and presumably it made it to the ground. Diesel fuel evaporates completely by around 400°F and self-ignites by 500°F. The engine idled normally after the fire.

[@davida1hiwaaynet]

@@denverbraughler3948 Yes, it really looks like oil. It is odd that it idled normally. I wonder if they secured the oil supply to the turbo somehow?

[@denverbraughler3948]

@@davida1hiwaaynet: When the engine is at idle, the exhaust pressure is low and the turbocharger spools down.

[@davida1hiwaaynet]

@Jeff C It's an issue.

[@ralfie8801]

@@denverbraughler3948 There is no such thing as an exhaust gate that closes on this model of locomotive, or any other large modern unit for that matter. The turbo spools down because there’s not enough exhaust flow to spool it up. The exhaust manifolds on both engine banks are connected directly to the turbo on these.

[@Nebo888]

Used to drive CA-99 a lot from 2017-2019 and always went through Tehachapi. In fact the last time I drive through there was March 2019 and there was a snow storm. Hit a squall on one of the mountain tops and was completely blinded. Always watched those long freight trains snake through the switch-backs. I run intermodal now.

[@SCHensley]

Thank you for following this to end and getting footage, and will guess probably calling in information as you could before it became a huge issue.

[@abqcleve]

Incredible video! Great work and editing!

[@HeartlandTuber]

Fantastic footage, great video. Thanks for posting, fascinating video.

[@WarbirdVideos]

Great camerawork and editing, not to mention actually being there to capture the event in the first place!

[@ulrichg.3424]

Taking into account the impressive flames coming out of the chimney, the train looks amazingly undamaged with the open doors at the end!

[@NightshiftCustom]

it will just need a new turbo theres nothing wrong with the rest as it was not on fire

[@JF-lt5zc]

Excellent catch! 4309: I'm on fire! I'm on fire! Also 4309: Whoop.

[@RRphotographer661]

Thank you

[@DonVideoGuy007]

... more like "Whoop - I'm a GE Toaster!"

[@davidnelson6893]

@@DonVideoGuy007 Yes you let the toast out

[@raywilson800]

Great work. Thank you for posting this ❤🐘🇺🇸

[@TheCRDMiller]

This is amazing quality footage, thank you!!

[@RICDirector]

Late to the party, but wowsers on the capture here! Phenomenal work. Passing on to a great FB fire group for winter discussion up in NorCal. Shudder to think of that happening up here in the canyons.... Stellar quality video, and thank you!

[@WideWorldofTrains]

Reminds me of the Norfolk Southern Train Fire I got, nice catch

[@rearspeaker6364]

that one is the top 1, hands down!!! only loco fire that gets close is a russian 2TE10m on fire.

[@frankhiatt5295]

Great story, and great coverage on the aftermath. Love it.

[@BBT609]

that's why they are called GE Toasters! Due the footage is BEYOND amazing!! Great Job!

[@peterhanahoe4913]

Great video, I've seen a few GE turbo failures like that, one right there as it happens, but this is the most spectacular!

[@PainesvilleRailfans]

that's an impressive flame! great video, thanks for sharing!

[@JackFruh]

Nice job capturing all that footage and editing it down to a cohesive video!

[@Skank_and_Gutterboy]

Wow, the footage is so good that it looks like it was done for a Hollywood movie or something. Wow, that's like once in a lifetime footage captured there. Good work getting it.

[@LionheartedDan]

Excellent video footage - thank you for sharing this!

[@kerncountyresponsevideos2639]

Wow! Great shots I arrived on scene about an 30 minutes after 318 and 345 got there. It was pretty much out.

[@rjbworkshop]

Excellent video, thankyou. When I saw the thumbnail I thought this must be clickbait but it wasn't and that made me smile! 🙂

[@paveltolz6601]

Thanks for this video. I watched it unfold on the Tehachapi Live Train Cams channel so as interesting as that was, the DPU was hidden from view after the train backed up and parked it just behind high ground. Very interesting.

[@amtrak3501]

Stellar video man glad you were in right place at the right time

[@dcarmeloi]

Beautiful filmmaking. Gutsy drone work. No annoying narrative. No cross sell. Thanks!

[@ffjsb]

Gutsy??? This isn't Ukraine.

[@wb5tty]

I had a brand-new GE locomotive do the same thing. Injector problem burned a hole in a piston causing crankcase oil to enter the exhaust where it flashed. This was about 1980. Looks like not much has changed over the past 40 years...... For the record I liked the EMD Locomotives better than the GE. High-Ball Run 8!

[@RRphotographer661]

Me too!

[@davechupp7922]

That's it! Shutting off fuel doesn't stop it. Cut off the air doesn't stop it (unclear why). Just has to burn until oil is gone from the reservoir.

[@wb5tty]

@@davechupp7922 There was a big steel box that was where all the exhaust ports combined. It got so hot the crankcase oil would flash if got in there. Air came in the exhaust stack on top of the engine. I did the emergency shut down and it burned for several minutes, until all the oil burned away. The BNSF/SF was a good place to work as a Prior Rights Employee. From what I hear these days not so good compared to the old days. Things change, I am an old guy who enjoys living in the past. To all my Railroad brothers and sisters, stay safe.

[@tulyar1043]

​@@wb5ttyAmen to that.

[@dustup2249]

Great videography. Bet this fireball express would look awesome at midnght.

[@schrap72]

Amazing!! Great job done by everyone involved! I'm very impressed!

[@RobertWilliams-mk8pl]

Excellent coverage of the event. Nearly as good as being there.

[@catdaddyglenn9697]

Great camera & drone work

[@cobra7250]

I love your content and Your photography is unsurpassed. I enjoy the fact that you do not have any telephoto shots at least that I have seen. And last but not least your audio is sensational. Thanks😊

[@RRphotographer661]

I appreciate your support

[@chrisblore6385]

Great video.. love that you just filmed without adding music

[@robihamdani5385]

Some high quality content mate! Thank you

[@bengone3349]

Good capture of a potentially catastrophic fire, both land and engine.

[@RRphotographer661]

Thank you

[@domi7007]

Its just going oil from the turbo and burning in the exhaust, mostly nothing happens.

[@ffjsb]

@@domi7007 This.

[@debmanin]

Incredible 👏👏👏 Thanks for uploading 🙏

[@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606]

I’m surprised the computer didn’t isolate the unit from a radiator temp alarm Also at 3:51 you can see oil residue shining on the black, so that was most likely a oil line or seal leak catching fire on the hot exhaust

[@rossginn1171]

Great footage, grateful it didn’t turn into something far more serious! 🙏🏻

[@CableWrestler]

As said, hundreds of times already, great footage.

[@sthpac6910]

I have a BNSF shelf train layout in my office, and this was one of the best videos yet.

[@Theyralltakenfu]

You got some really excellent footage. Good job.

[@mikelowery5741]

Probably one of the coolest videos I seen and I wonder how they got a replacement dpu loco so they can continue their timetable?!?

[@jimratliff2753]

Boy that was a one in a million video catch. Great job. Pretty good that Kern County got an air attack helicopter on the spot fires before the type 3 engines were able to find each of the veg fires. Nice video work.

[@RRphotographer661]

Thanks for your support

[@williamphillip9749]

Happens all the time at work

[@AndreLuiz-gk1mf]

how good it is to live in the technological age where everyone can register something like this congratulations on the quality of the images

[@dumbcomputing]

Excellent video! The footage is so well shot and in clear 4K. The aerial shots were so scenic it almost looked like a model train set (even though it clearly isn't). Most of the trains I see are in a very industrialized area the deliver and pick up from automotive and steel plants so to see something out of scenic CA like the blows my mind.

[@RRphotographer661]

Well thank you for your lengthy and thoughtful comment! I’ll keep them coming!

[@BalticFilms144]

When you engage the afterburners but remember that GEs don't have them....

[@HotForgeChaos]

Well, not all GE's

[@CATech1138]

Reheater and the downstream turbine fell off?

[@sethjessbry32]

Those good ole dash 9’s will run till they blow up! Built in 1999 and still running like a champ till the end.

[@The_Angry_Medic]

they would probably run a lot longer if the railroads gave a shit about maintaining in-service power

[@MsJhon1980]

Seus vídeos de trem são os melhores 🇧🇷👍

[@KreativeFotoVideo]

Waw...amazing capture....epic work

[@rydenclancy9519]

Awesome drone video. How lucky to be in right place at the right time.

[@normansilver905]

Good drop by Kern Co FD copter on this fire!

[@PJWey]

Kern County for the win!

[@rael5469]

This was incredible coverage of this event. Just incredible. I've never seen anything like this in my life. Something that would normally be way in the background that you'd never see.

[@RRphotographer661]

I’m glad you enjoyed it! I try my best to catch top notch content

[@rael5469]

@@RRphotographer661 Your efforts really paid off this time. Stay safe out there.

[@stantonscrossings]

Saw this in my feed had to watch, definitely you were there at the right time, glad they got the fire out.

[@markcrowell2727]

amazing capture of the entire event!

[@alcopower5710]

Fantastic coverage 👍

[@RRphotographer661]

Thank you

[@waldemarogandotrens.8063]

Há certos registros que se não fossem filmados ninguém acreditaria, parabéns pelo excelente flagrante, pelo fato do incêndio ser na locomotiva da cauda, certamente fica difícil do condutor perceber 👏 saudações do Brazil 🇧🇷

[@jenniferross4646]

Outstanding Coverage! This is a very interesting incident to witness. Thanks!

[@LoneStarRails]

Very good coverage and production.

[@TheMidgardViking]

Wow, awesome footage!

[@bee_ron]

So happy i could watch this amazing video. Thanks for posting.

[@markfreiberg9906]

How did you get the engine sound on your drone footage? I thought drones couldn’t record sound without hearing the buzz of their propellers!

[@eatonbeaver6083]

I dont know what drone was used in this video but my drone records audio through the remote and not the drone itself so any audio is from where the operator is at.

[@robertvantassel2761]

Just happened to see this on the loop live cam when it occurred. Good to see the rest of the story! Well done!!!

[@majorwedgie8166]

Great editing and videography!

[@Ambrosedickens]

I have encountered this phenomenon on several occasions more esp when we're taking up a high gradient in notch 8. The loco turbo tends to exert alot of hot air (if the intercooler isn't so efficient) which meets with a rich mixture and pores flames out in the exhuast outlet.

[@MichaelSaraka1980]

Wow what a video I just subscribed to you man

[@Benjamin-David]

Great catch. Wow.

[@scottkasper6378]

Wow! Once in a lifetime drone shot!!

[@RODALCO2007]

Great footage, that is being at the right place at the right time.

[@ganeshdattharbola4559]

Amazing video footage of freight trains rear engine inferno near tehachapi and how promptly the fire extinguisher team came into action to prevent and control the accident from becoming a big degaster .

[@mattc.310]

Nice catch. Pretty spectacular blown turbo. Usually they're just heavy smoke.

[@4423422]

Got good combustion this time very hot

[@tracksidemike]

Great capture of the hole situation new sub Thanks for sharing 👍🏻🔔🇨🇦🚂🥓

[@RRphotographer661]

Thank you !

[@heartsky]

Excellent job recording and editing, no extra music, just good news!

[@Max_Marz]

wow look at how small that exhaust system is, the turbos are right there at the outlet! Very interesting to see the anatomy

[@joec6804]

"It's making power, no alarms and were running on clears. Let's keep going."

[@brandonreeves5979]

Holy cow!!! That’s crazy! 😮

[@ffjsb]

It's not crazy, it's actually a somewhat common failure.

[@brandonreeves5979]

@@ffjsb oh I imagine it is, it’s just cool seeing that happen that’s all.

[@sernajrlouis]

Cool video and channel just subscribed

[@dgwdgw]

Very curious what the ground rig was here. Smooth zooming action, crisp 4K frames, and what I assume to be a fairly long lens. The drone was cool too, yes, but I'm not (yet) immersed in that world.