Chilhowie NS/Truck Collision

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

The pictures were sent to those of us with dial-up, and they took 
forever to download. Please do not do this to us again. Is the moderator 
listening?    Jim Nichols

nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org wrote:


> Today, at about 1:30pm, there was a grade crossing collision between a 

> tractor trailer, and NS 23G on the Bristol line.  The 23G (I believe 

> this was the train number) was an eastbound double stack that was 

> passing through Chilhowie, VA at the Rt 600 crossing, when it struck 

> an 18 wheeler that was heading towards Int. 81 (South) entrance.

>

> It is my understanding that the driver of the truck leaped from the 

> cab of  his vehicle before the impact of the locomotive.  My belief is 

> that there was a vehicle in front of the truck that had stopped just 

> past the crossing to turn left (East) on the road that runs parallel 

> to the NS track and runs along the park in Chilhowie.  I believe that 

> the truck driver had stopped with his cab on the tracks to wait for 

> the car to turn, when the train approached.

>

> The track speed through Chilhowie is about 45 mph, and the double 

> stacks are usually doing this when they come through.  I have watched 

> many trains at this crossing, and from the time they round the curve 

> west of the crossing to they get to the crossing, is at least 40 

> seconds at track speed.

>

> One thing that surprised me though was the fact that 23G got the lead 

> loco stopped within 0.2 of a mile from the impact point at the 

> crossing.  Even if the engineer of 23G had put his train into 

> emergency as soon as he rounded the curve and could see the truck, he 

> still got the train stopped within about 1/2 of a mile.  I would be 

> surprised if he was doing the permitted speed through here and would 

> be able to stop within the relatively short distance.

>

> There was a circus that had set up in the field at the Chilhowie Park 

> beside the NS tracks that day, and I wonder if the railroad had put in 

> slow orders for this area because of this.  If so, this would explain 

> the fairly quick stop of the train, and would seem to have been very 

> fortunate for both the crew as well as the truck driver.

>

> One thing I overheard on the scanner from one of Virginia State 

> Troopers that was working the wreck, was that the engineer was in the 

> cab, and would not leave to talk to anyone until NS personnel showed 

> up at the site of the collision. 

>

> About one hour after the collision, they broke the train in half at 

> the crossing to allow traffic to cross, and the wreckage of the truck 

> was cleared up at about 3:00pm.  Of course, rail traffic had stacked 

> up on both sides of the collision, and later this evening I saw two 

> east bounds come through about 15 minutes apart, and both were moving 

> at restricted speed through the area.

>

> I took several pictures of the collision that I am going to send, but 

> in deference to those with dial up, I am going to send them in 

> separate emails.  These photos are not 56k friendly, so you have the 

> option of opening them up if you choose.

>

> We all need to remember....Stop, Look and Listen.

>

> Jerry Hammond

>

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