CSX freight train derails in Ellicott City; 2 killed

The Washington Times ^ | August 21, 2012 | Alex Dominguez (AP)

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

ELLICOTT CITY, Md. (AP) — A train hauling coal derailed on a bridge in this city’s historic district, killing two college students who had been drinking together and hanging out on the tracks. Nearly two dozen railroad cars flipped over, including some that fell onto vehicles in a parking lot below the bridge, officials said.

The students, both 19-year-old women, posted photos and comments from what appeared to be the bridge shortly before the train derailed around midnight Monday, according to Twitter feeds with the same names as the victims.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Maryland “Freak State” PING!

[null and void]

Coal kills...

[the OlLine Rebel]

This is finally up on FR after a full day+? It has gotten a mention because it allegedly disrupted Gitmo trials!

I live 5 min from the site and got a look yesterday. Mostly from the same place the TV on-screen reporters are perched upon. So didn’t see a whole lot, just 1 car still toppled next to the caboose and coal piles beyond that, with earth-movers working them down.

[iowamark]

Twitter photo posted before the derailment.

[Alberta's Child]

In the story I saw yesterday on this, there was some speculation about whether the two unfortunate women who perished might have somehow caused the incident. The emergency brakes on the train were apparently applied automatically, causing the derailment ... and there was no clear indication of what could have triggered that.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Cute, stupid and dead is no way to go through life. RIP.

[the OlLine Rebel]

They’ve been mentioning that a lot, but I find it hard to believe.

My dad would know more, but even falling backward over the rails shouldn’t cause brakes to apply. 120 lbs is a joke to a train and it wouldn’t stop soon enough, anyway. Besides, the engine appeared to be just east of the caboose, which is only some 500 ft beyond the bridge they illegally and stupidly sat on. Brakes probably applied much further west.

It’s very possible it could be bad equipment - cracked wheel, etc. They’ve already replaced the rails so maybe it’s not poor track.

I just can’t imagine what those women would do that would cause the train to fall.