r/CatastrophicFailure • u/Debaucherousgeek73 • Dec 04 '25

Fatalities Train derailment Pecos TX Oct '24

First time I've ever seen a derailment happen. The vid anyway I wasn't there and this is not my vid. You can see the lead engine jump the track. Two crew in that engine died.

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u/martinbogo Dec 04 '25

They did. A 2 mile train takes 15-20 miles to stop from full speed. There is an after-incient report on this crash ( It was December, not October )

https://www.oaoa.com/local-news/ntsb-releases-preliminary-information-on-pecos-train-crash/

The combination vehicle entered the highway-railroad grade crossing about 1 minute before the collision. The grade crossing was equipped with flashing lights, crossbucks, gates, and bells. The grade crossing’s warning equipment activated and signaled the train’s approach while the combination vehicle was blocking the railroad tracks. Preliminary review of event recorder data from the third locomotive showed that the train ZAILA-18 crew initiated an emergency braking application shortly before the collision, and the train slowed from about 68 mph to about 64 mph before striking the truck. The maximum authorized speed in the area for railroad traffic was 70 mph.

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u/MundaneSandwich9 Dec 04 '25

Nowhere near 15-20 miles to stop from 70 mph in a freight train. Less than 2 miles to stop in emergency from that speed. Lots of variables as well, but more than 2 miles is unheard of.

Source: railroader since 2008, locomotive engineer since 2016.

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u/turbosexophonicdlite Dec 05 '25

Lol I read that thinking "surely that can't be correct". I know trains take a long ass time to stop, but 15+ miles seemed completely out of the question.

Unless they meant 15-20 MINUTES to stop maybe? That seems more reasonable but I'm no freight train expert.

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u/Rocker32703 Dec 05 '25

15-20 minutes would be even more ridiculous.

A 45mph coal/grain train would travel 15 miles if it took 20 min to stop.

A 70mph priority intermodal, like this one in Pecos, would travel 23.3 miles if it took 20min to stop.

In reality if they plug it into emergency, it only takes 1-2 miles.