Train Separates in Chesterton, IN!

NS B09 separated between the trailing SD40-2 and the first flatcar. From the looks of it, it seems to have been caused by a low drawbar.
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John @region.rails
Evan @american.rails

[@UnionPacificRailroader]

"Hey Johnny!" "Yeah?" "Are we goin' downhill? 'Cause it's real easy to pick up speed now!" "Uhh no, why?" "Look behind us..."

[@trentongreen925]

What

[@Canadian_RAIL_FAN]

Lol

[@ROCKSTAR13133]

🙄

[@NW475]

This was a great catch. I'm glad you weren't overreacting and screaming "OH MY GOD" on repeat and instead enjoyed the moment. (I hope you get the video reference).

[@RegionRailfanners]

I do lol. I think Layne and I were in shock. I was the guy on the other side of the tracks.

[@pliosaw]

I think I know the video reference, does it involve a certain Union Pacific train

[@NW475]

Actually the video I was referencing involves Norfolk Southern train 12R and a broken knuckle on the train, thus causing the train to split.

[@cjcompton9410]

@@RegionRailfannersgreat video

[@robertbrouillette6767]

This is still a good example of just how dangerous it can be around railroad tracks. Loose cars can still roll quite a ways before coming to a full stop.

[@Tolono]

Crew was on the ball here (and the camera work was great as well). I have seen pictures of wrecks where the locomotives came quickly to a stop and the rest of the train smashed into them at speed causing significant damage. They outran the train and even sounded the horn for the crossings. You can hear the panic in the horn signals. Great job to both the crew and the people filming and editing. Also hard to beat the look of NS spartan cabs with hot rolled steel.

[@silicon212]

add a K5LLA on an SD40-2 to that mix.

[@freedomunrestricted]

How are you going to outrun the train when the air pops and you are in emergency? Those units shouldn't of been loading. At best they would of been able to hold the independent in bail off and keep coasting.

[@cdavid8139]

@@freedomunrestricted Totally depends on the unit and the electronics.

[@freedomunrestricted]

@@cdavid8139 not in north America with modern locomotives made in the last 50 years it doesn't.

[@cdavid8139]

@@freedomunrestricted Agreed...for the most part. I'm not an expert on what was made when and where but if you say it is 50 years I'll go with it. However, my comment still stands. It does depend on the unit and the electronics.

[@thomasrapp2536]

George Westinghouse strikes again, what a nice smooth E stop on the train.

[@garedneck04therailfanner48]

Someone in the comments already said this, I'm not the first one to point this out: But NS #3517 is the Burlington Northern #7065 that was involved in the 2006 Kismet train collision. It was still in operation with BNSF after the crash until they sold it in 2008 to HLCX as a lease unit. This was when BNSF was buying the BNSF unique ES44C4s. HLCX kept it in BN paint, and kept the number 7065, they only patched the BN reporting mark. In 2013, Norfolk Southern bought HLCX #7065. They completely repainted it, and renumbered it to #3517. And apparently this locomotive somehow picked up a K5LLA for a horn, unusual that an SD40-2 receive a K5LLA. I have a feeling that NS #3517 could have a curse, after what it went through since 2006.

[@whiteknightcat]

Thanks for the history of that unit.

[@brianhebert6152]

This time, it thankfully didn't go off the rails.

[@suppylarue220]

exactly what I was thinking. you took the words right out of my mouth.

[@danmathers141]

The brakes on the cars are kept off with air pressure. The pressure releases when the engines disconnect. That makes the brakes stop the cars.

[@royreynolds108]

You are thinking and describing the airbrake system for roadway vehicles. Freight train air lines are charged to 90 psi which also charges the reservoir on each car to that pressure so if the train line pressure is reduced, that difference in pressure is applied to the brake cylinder of each car in the train until changed by recharging the train line or reducing the train line pressure more thus adding to the braking force on each car.

[@raygale4198]

Not true for rail cars, Roys comment below is correct. Further to that the brakes only stay applied until the reservoir pressure is lost then the cars become free rolling one by one. That's how they are able to free shunt cars around a yard to build a train consist. In the situation shown in the video it's fairly important that some hand brakes are applied to stop the train rolling away as the air brakes come off.

[@donaldschlosser6964]

@@raygale4198 that's what the release rod does they bring the train in the yard a Carman inspects the cars releases the air then they are free rolling to switch or hump

[@alvexok5523]

Trains still break more slowly and over longer distances than cars do

[@timosha21]

Fantastic train video! I'm a tram and I approve this video! Ding ding!!!

[@tomp8871]

Those coil cars are heavy, great job by the crew.

[@abloogywoogywoo]

Look! There's the SD40-2 twins, who wanted to pull a train, but forgot about the cars.

[@davidcoleman958]

Really crazy event! This railcam is awesome to watch! Chesteron is my go to railcam to watch during football games on Sunday nights.

[@humanbeing8338]

Hilarious and insane! Is there any video of the engine come back for the goods???

[@bobbender2922]

That's what happening when don't use Kadee Couplers, LOL.

[@AtsutsA]

OH WOW I live a mile from this intersection and had no idea this happened!!!

[@carmichaeltrainproductionc9663]

WoW This is unbelievable I wonder if the clew had to keep going to get out of Dangerous territory is there a video that show the crews came back after the cars? The other I would have thought the crew would know if they lost the cars time will only tell Excellent Video Keep up the good work I Just subscribed!!

[@RegionRailfanners]

They got out of the way, they came back pretty quick and were blocking town for about 3 hours due to repairs.

[@carmichaeltrainproductionc9663]

I figured they would Man I had of been something to be in the front row seat of all this and folding!!

[@bradgriffin9892]

I don’t understand how the engines didn’t go into emergency once they became disconnected. Whatever happened, everyone involved was lucky to walk away unharmed and for everything to stay out of the mud.

[@carmichaeltrainproductionc9663]

@@bradgriffin9892 My guess is that those cars just became unattached and the brakes must’ve kicked on as soon as they became on attached at this point they probably had to get out of the way again I’m just a photographer and a huge Rail fan so I’m just learning those procedures myself but regardless safety hazard!!

[@jmpeak2384]

@Brad Griffin The engines did go into emergency. The procedure is to bail off the engine brakes when the train goes into emergency to prevent too much force against the cars creating a jackknifing effect. But when you leave all the cars like that you're bailing off the only brake stopping the engines so until you realize it you're in a freeroll. But that's a loaded rolled steel train trust me they knew pretty quick they didn't have any cars behind them.

[@RailFan1981]

Wow, neat catch! Right place at the right time, lol.

[@OxnardLocalRailfan]

0:37 Your going on with your day then you see that passing by your house.

[@ohioandnortheastern]

Lol

[@YTPartyTonight]

Steel coils from one of the big three steel mills in the area. I was raised not far from that location. The lousy weather there--yuck--sent me off all the way to SoCal.

[@sanny632]

Man I’d love a video of the repairs :)

[@ellieprice3396]

Engineer; Oops, forgot my train, better go back and get it!

[@hlcx2330]

Does that SD40 have a K5LLA? Nice capture though.

[@RegionRailfanners]

Indeed! And thanks!

[@megadavis5377]

I can just imagine, along about 2:05 in the video, the conductor, while doing his crossword puzzle, hollers over to the engineer, "Hey Frank, what's a six-letter phrase that means ""bad mistake?""

[@bobfather99]

Right place, right time......... :)

[@RegionRailfanners]

It was crazy!

[@mattkeller2466]

You always hear about how long it takes a train to stop. Looks like it stopped pretty quickly and that was without the help of the engines trying to slow it down.

[@silicon212]

it wasn't going all that fast. Think about the physics behind it ... you have a 210 ton (420,000 lb or close to 190 metric ton) locomotive, that makes contact - steel on steel - with the rails over an area of about the size of 20cm2 or about 12 US 50 cent coins - one coin for each wheel. Try to stop that from 60mph and it's easy to see that it's going to take a while to do. It's common for a freight train travelling at 60mph to require close to a mile to stop.

[@fogdan]

Awesome Catch!!!

[@Mark-r7m1p]

How long it take them to realize, what had happened?

[@MattCantSpeakIt]

About one second. They know because the locomotive suddenly starts braking on its own and they see the brake line pressure drop to zero. Plus im sure a bunch of alarms going off.

[@ryanhruska6667]

Damn, I feel like I am forgetting something. What could it be 🤔 O well.....this sandwich is delicious 😂😂

[@hashslingingslasher4215]

Wow. How did I not know about this? I go to college in Chesterton, and I didn't hear about or see this, and I was right by a set of tracks.

[@epacm50]

WOW! What a trip. The no air pressure alarm would of alert the crew. Thank God no one was injured!

[@TheBeeMan1994]

There’s no low air pressure alarm in a locomotive, the only thing close to it is the air brake that vents in the cab when air pressure is lost. The engineer can keep the emergency brake from setting on the power by “bailing” the independent

[@royreynolds108]

@@TheBeeMan1994 There would be an indication from FRED that the brake pipe pressure had dropped.

[@silicon212]

Not so much of an alarm, there really is none - but there's a loud blast of air as the brakes go into emergency, and the pneumatic control valve will trip and idle the locomotive engine.

[@hughvane]

"I say, Festus, do you think we're travelling a little lighter than before?"

[@Tegridyvs]

Not your typical horn on a SD40-2 that’s for sure. Sounds great

[@jimmarshall4636]

Good thing the "PCS" was working as intended.

[@cdavid8139]

"PCS"????

[@CombsTowerProductions]

when you're rocking and rolling down the chicago line and your head car has a low draw bar, it always spells a good time for ya

[@RailfanTurner]

Terrific catch!

[@chandramohanpai2082]

Bengals444T.@ l🤔 videographer had telepathy that cars will be seperated at that spot so lucky to catch

[@RailfanTurner]

@@chandramohanpai2082 cool! You’re Welcome!

[@12groney]

Engineer- "This engine has a lot of pep today! Must be the fuel additive!"

[@Metal9040]

What was your initial reaction when this occurred

[@RegionRailfanners]

Didn’t know what I was seeing lol. Like it wasn’t real!

[@Marcuswelby-nx2te]

a rash under my pit

[@joanneiler2415]

I've seen this before. I lived there for a very long time. Doesn't surprise me at all.

[@geoffreylee5199]

Another timely catch!

[@action_jackson_reactions2812]

3517 WAS IN THE KISMIT TRAIN WRECK OF 2006. IT WAS 7065!!! IT WAS A FORMER BN UNIT THEN BECAME A BNSF UNIT. THEN IT WAS A LEASE UNIT. THEN NORFOLK SOUTHERN BOUGHT IT AND TURNED IT INTO 3517

[@ohioandnortheastern]

I dont believe you

[@action_jackson_reactions2812]

@@ohioandnortheastern well it's true

[@garedneck04therailfanner48]

@@ohioandnortheastern I researched. It's true! HLCX bought BNSF 7065 (still in BN paint) in 2008, remained #7065. Norfolk Southern bought HLCX #7065 in 2013, repainted it, and renumbered it 3517. NS 3517 is the BN 7065 involved in the Kismet train collision. And it just went through another incident, it must be an unlucky locomotive.

[@silicon212]

@@garedneck04therailfanner48 I don't believe the locomotive had anything to do with what happened. It appears the drawbar/coupler on the lead coil car was at fault.

[@PRG902]

Ns sd40-2 2nd unit : Omg we decoupled them Ns sd40-2 lead unit : Should we leave them? Coil cars : WAIT FOR US!!!!!!! Ns sd40-2 : Maybe we should...... Coil cars : Wait!!!!!!!!! Ns sd40-2 lead : Umm.......we should couple them back then.

[@PRG902]

Momment of the seperation: 0:28

[@tomstarcevich1147]

What happens did they come back and get it??????

[@RegionRailfanners]

They went into emergency. Eventually reconnected and went into a siding for the night.

[@gamingzone1122]

Great catch👍❤

[@camerondouglas7055]

Forgot to equip the coil car with a horn lol.

[@lunalie6938]

"hey, why am i accelerating?- OH!"

[@AmtrakTBL]

Crazy

[@richardjohnson9029]

Always remember to look both ways before crossing any Railway Track .

[@randomtransitadventures]

most put together train by NS

[@rearspeaker6364]

and no towns were polluted by this.

[@randomtransitadventures]

hehe

[@cacline72]

"Gonna have to take 5 points off for the low coupler height."

[@erichoekema7918]

You are correct. You are now a journeyman carman!

[@railfink]

Isn't it usually just negative one spike for a low or faulty coupler?

[@timothybline7900]

just curious, how come the engines did'nt go into emergency , a good engineer would notice his train is missing

[@sbmcvp4525]

A good engineer?? I guess that "bad" engineer kept the train from running into the back of him before it finally came to a stop. Depending on weight and speed, it could roll half mile or better before it stops.

[@bradgriffin9892]

I wondered this as well. It could be they were never laced up and the crew got on and ran like they stole it.

[@sbmcvp4525]

@@bradgriffin9892 That would never happen. The engineer is actuating his engine brakes to stay away from it. At that speed it will take a bit to stop his engines because he can't use his dynamic brakes due to the "emergency." Most likely a coupler pin broke or one of those freak things that made it uncouple (slack action)

[@TheBeeMan1994]

Because the engineer can do what’s called “bailing off” the independent brake, and trust me you notice when a train separates because the emergency brake blows off inside the cab. So what he did is released the locomotive brakes so the train wouldn’t slam into the locomotives and derail

[@silicon212]

It most likely did. The engineer most likely bailed on the brakes to keep the locomotives from coming to a quick stop.

[@vaneezaadam3023]

That's my husband who helped and fixed that car.

[@erichoekema7918]

He loved every minute of it!

[@doanster]

I'm surprised the crossing gates were smart enough to open at 2:21 even while the string of cars was still on the approach block.

[@royreynolds108]

The crossing signals at that crossing were reacting to the loco units that went through. The cars were slowing down.

[@reaghank8602]

It's a feature built into the track circuit detection devices. They measure the change in feedback to know where in relation to the crossing the first axle that shorts the circuit is and whether it then needs to raise or lower the gates and activate the warning signals.

[@jonathanrinda7171]

Wow and this was caught on the Railstream camera! Just hope the next train didn’t run into it.

[@zactherailfanner]

How did I not know about this?! I would have seen it if I wasn’t at home.

[@Forgottenchannels]

Hello Railfans!!

[@RegionRailfanners]

✋🏼

[@sandyp6802]

how did the train conductor not see🎉 that?

[@fiercetrains4052]

We’ve broken away we’ve broken away!

[@DetroitLove4U]

When the initial coupled car in the manifest separates from the consist this will always open up an investigation against the whole crew - usual a suspension until investigation is complete.

[@joemac3118]

Damn knuckle broke! You can it dangling there at the end and no,there is no investigation and suspension when a knuckle brakes!!! Don't know where you heard that or even,why you made that up,but don't tell lies on here!!!😑

[@whiteknightcat]

@@joemac3118 And what exactly are you referring to as the "knuckle" you see dangling from the otherwise intact coupler?

[@MoreEffinCowbell]

The engineer was just dropping off a road block.

[@brianhebert6152]

This entire situation feels like a episode of Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Just imagine the Gang is the crew onboard the locomotive, and you've got a instant plot!

[@christopherdibble5872]

The engineers don't wave from the trains anymore, not like they did back in 1954.chris

[@Trainos_Brainos]

Are those gwr slip coaches? (Real ones get the refrence)

[@mr.polemikus4933]

sure had happened few seconds before, but I wonder why driver didn’t slow down acting as "shield"

[@garykcs5532]

Ops didn't make that air hose hook up good enough

[@mattstarr8203]

notice a huge power increase after the breakup

[@nonewherelistens1906]

Timely catch.

[@cyhigdon3861]

They couldnt feel rhe engine rev higher when rhe cars seperated? I guarntee uf I had dropped a trailer on the highway, I wouldve known about it imnediately

[@Talldarkhandsom]

It doesn't work like that. The engines don't rev higher. when the train separates the emergency brakes automatically set. It also cuts power and sets engine brakes automatically. the rear end is linked to the head end so the engineer knows exactly what's going on at the rear via "ETD" via "HTD". The reason the engines are still moving is to get away from the train to avoid a rear end collision. these engines have a few minute delay to insure they get far enough away

[@kelvintorrence5994]

I used to work out there

[@MrGrunter0]

Why does it seem so frequent in America for freight trains to separate on route? Here in the UK it is almost unheard of for a train to become divided.

[@timl1481]

I guess it's many factors. Firstly the tonnages involved are far higher in the US, as these trains can easily be 2+ miles long, meaning the the forces on the couplers are much greater. Secondly the much higher frequency of freight trains in America then over here in the UK increasing the chances of these incidents happening. Also much larger country, much more frequent train movements means far more people filming trains!

[@royreynolds108]

When events such as this occur, they get posted. It is just like all of the compilations of wrecks in Europe and Russia, when put together give the appearance that they happen very frequently.

[@larryjanson4011]

in realty it rairly happens. one can sit board out of there mind waiting for trains to pass on some main lines. if you just want to see a accident you can die of old age first. but when corp greed make the equipment work to or beyond there limits things will happen. if is a sham to compare eourpe to America. as far more tons per mile / day here. far more trains per day here. far more cars per mile/day here. over all the railroads do a great job moving goods safely. just when it happens it makes the news, as good things do not sell headlines like a tragedy, blood or sex does.

[@larryjanson4011]

in realty it rairly happens. one can sit board out of there mind waiting for trains to pass on some main lines. if you just want to see a accident you can die of old age first. but when corp greed make the equipment work to or beyond there limits things will happen. if is a sham to compare eourpe to America. as far more tons per mile / day here. far more trains per day here. far more cars per mile/day here. over all the railroads do a great job moving goods safely. just when it happens it makes the news, as good things do not sell headlines like a tragedy, blood or sex does.

[@john72ss]

took a long time for the e brakes to kick in.

[@cdavid8139]

They kicked in instantly.

[@john72ss]

@@cdavid8139 the e brakes on the flatbed cars! not the locomotives....

[@cdavid8139]

@@john72ss Right. As soon as the train separated the brakes on all the cars applied instantly. That's the way North American air brake systems work.

[@aaron2573]

Does anybody know what those passenger car/house is on the other side of the tracks?

[@gokuson6635]

Why was that dude running at the end ?

[@georgetrains6168]

Wow can't believe that happened

[@michiganrailfan2141]

I kind of wonder if the crew after stopping and realizing you were there were like "Great, right in front of some foamers."

[@angelmalarkey7946]

Oh no, it’s a runaway train.

[@dantomasetti7866]

As they would say wait for me.

[@gjurczyc]

Thank Goodness the cars stopped OMG the weight on them

[@colegensch787]

SIR TOPHAM HAT: n/s you have caused confusion and delay NS 3517: yes sir. Sorry sir. 🤭🤭

[@KCTopDawg]

That's crazy. Cool catch though 😎

[@CSX453]

Damn!

[@IowaGrandpaTrain]

The cars clearly went into emergency but the locomotives didn’t sound like it. Talk about an “oh s**t” moment!

[@Unsound_advice]

Engineer “bailed” the brakes to get away from the rolling stock.

[@ratbag359]

You do not want the lead end to stop fast if you do you get rear ended buy the trailing end which turns into a wreck. you can hear they kept the locos under power they also override the loco brakes to prevent excessive braking and the above scenario.

[@jackrussell680]

Could have been bad if that intersection was full of people not paying attention. See the train go by and not look for more.

[@cmarano]

When we see so many coupler/drawbar failures CAUGHT ON VIDEO I have to wonder, how many more we don't see. Can anybody point to stats for this? I'm honestly curious how frequent it is.

[@cdavid8139]

There are many many many you never know about. Part of the job

[@rearspeaker6364]

there are no stats for that, only assumptions.

[@KManXPressTheU]

Whoopsie! Something broke Loose!

[@FurthermoreJack]

Those loads are notorious for becoming detached

[@FurthermoreJack]

Once it rolls to a stop someone Breaking Bad snatches one spool of industrial aluminum

[@tylerblackwell2688]

how did the crew not notice they lost their train

[@qwertzu87]

а у лок разве несрабатывают также автотормоза ?????

[@mikelowery5741]

Hey sir y’all forgot your train

[@9donald_10douglas]

How did it stop?

[@9donald_10douglas]

@made-in-the80s oh cool

[@9donald_10douglas]

@made-in-the80s as a steam locomotive I can confirm about this

[@9donald_10douglas]

@made-in-the80s I never got used to being around diesels cause at my place I used to work at in Scotland but now it's fully diesel so I decided to work with my two steam locomotives in the US

[@9donald_10douglas]

@made-in-the80s in 1959

[@mccoy79productions66]

nice

[@colegensch787]

Well that must've been embarrassing for the engineers to realize they accidentally left their cargo behind at the level crossing. Oops 🤭!!!

[@NJW1973]

Me. It happens.

[@sandyp6802]

Wow!!

[@mattstarr8203]

inland steel to newcarlise in / coil train / Cleveland cliffs plant no# 2 new name of the mill

[@railfanningrailproductions]

That is The B09 3517 Has Rs5t holy sh**

[@silicon212]

K5LLA, off of an SD70ACe/M-2.

[@railfanningrailproductions]

Yeah

[@racehemi4862]

That sure was one to catch.

[@braedenhaartman8180]

:O

[@_PJW_]

Gotta hand it to Elon. Those autonomous trains are awesome!

[@trainsplanesmore]

Don't you hate when that happens? 😀

[@robertgraham7355]

Hey you for got some time car

[@allanlester3561]

Couldn't the driver tell?