Train Derailment near Patapsco Valley State Park

[ab3a]

Listening to Howard County Fire Dispatch (154.250 FM). They're drawing assets from as far west as Carroll County to Old Frederick Road and Hollifield Road (8664+2J, Ellicott City, MD 21043) for a derailed freight train.

I suspect the multiple alarms are just a precaution, as there are probably a lot of very hot brakes out there and they don't want to see any fires. Thank goodness we have had a lot of rain all day today.

 

[tvengr]

I suspect the multiple alarms are just a precaution, as there are probably a lot of very hot brakes out there and they don't want to see any fires.

The reason multiple alarms are dispatched is for the possibility of hazardous materials leaking, igniting, and exploding. When a train wrecks and an air hose parts, there is an emergency application of the brakes which usually locks the wheels and the wheels slide on the rails. The wheels probably get pretty hot. There isn't much time for the brakes to heat up. If you ever hear a railroad car pass with a kerchunk-kerchunk sound, that car was most likely in a train where the brakes went into emergency and it has flat spots on the wheels from sliding on the rails. If it is raining and the rails are wet, that greatly decreases friction and increases stopping distance. Wet rails are very slick.