#MBTA Green Line Update: C & D Line branches: Normal service has resumed.
— MBTA (@MBTA) March 11, 2014
Now the T tries to figure out what caused a trolley to derail in the tunnel between Kenmore and Fenway yesterday.
Neighborhoods:
Topics:
Free tagging:
Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!
Ad:
Comments
How will we be able to tell?
By RichM
Tue, 03/11/2014 - 6:46am
How will we be able to tell?
Green Line operator chit chat
By BostonUrbEx
Tue, 03/11/2014 - 7:48am
Lot of rumor pedaling amongst the Green Line operators and supervisors today. But from the three I overheard in conversation, they agree the driver of the derailed trolley is usually going very slow -- much slower than other operators.
If this turns out to be a problem with the signal system, I would kiss the Green Line's capacity goodbye. They're going to put in some clunky hunk of junk of a signal system in for safety, and you won't have trains anywhere near as frequent as we do now.
How will we be able to tell?
By Scratchie
Tue, 03/11/2014 - 9:15am
How will we be able to tell?
Black box
By BostonUrbEx
Tue, 03/11/2014 - 9:41am
Supposedly (based on RailRoad.net discussion) the second car of the train (a newer Type 8 trolley) has a device similar to a black box or event recorder, and it might have information needed. Also, they'll ask the operator, the attendant (door operator on second car), and passengers involved. Supposedly a second train had to come to a sudden stop upon seeing the accident occur, so they'll probably ask that operator, as well.
Speed has to be involved
By Lecil
Tue, 03/11/2014 - 9:32am
Given how far the train traveled off the tracks and the amount of damage done to the front car, speed had to have been a factor. Looking at the pictures, I'm going to guess that he was simply going way too fast for the curve and just jumped the track. Possibly acerbated by a switch failure.
If he was going "much slower than other operators" it would be amazing that this hasn't happened before, though I will admit to being on trains whipping around that corner with what felt like excessive velocity...
Thinking the same
By BostonUrbEx
Tue, 03/11/2014 - 9:46am
I was thinking the same, since it seems to have slammed that concrete divider pretty hard. But these things weigh ALOT, and I don't know physics well, but I know enough that momentum can be a PITA...