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https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2023/why-train-derailments-this-month/ https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2023/why-train-derailm... Most derailments a

by fr0sty 4y ago

https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2023/why-train-derailments-this-month/ https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2023/why-train-derailm... Most derailments are in train yards. Few cause injuries, fewer cause deaths, and only a handful involve hazardous substances. I don't say that to downplay the mess in OH/PA, but just to make sure the base-rate is understood. And if you want to compare to europe it looks like US freight rail volume is at least 6x as large. Also no idea if/how they count "fender bender" derailments in switching yards. US standard is >$12k in damage according to TFA.

mlindner 4y ago
A couple months ago I watched an amateur train nerd on youtube cover a derailment that dumped a load of bitumin/tar into a river and destroyed a bridge. This kind of thing happens pretty commonly. No national news covered it, only a couple of local news stations, at least from what I could find on youtube/googling. It's confusing to me why this specific incident got so much attention.
- bombcar 4y ago
  Probably because it was literally visible from space (one it was lit on fire).
- Ar-Curunir 4y ago
  Maybe it should be confusing to you why more such harmful derailings are not getting as much attention
- katbyte 4y ago
  Link? That sounds like a channel I’d be interested in And this got the attention it did because it’s far more severe then one load of tar/bitumen in a river - and far more toxic made potentially worse from the choice to. Burn it off to clear the tracks faster
  - mlindner 4y ago
    Youtube has a lot of them. Here's one about a derailment in Nashville. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dZT7TTQqb4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dZT7TTQqb4 Here's the one I mentioned about a derailment in middle of nowhere Iowa that dumped tar into the creek. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HpL0Xk9jTI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HpL0Xk9jTI Here's one of those local news reports: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_pKVdv-Y6Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_pKVdv-Y6Y
    - katbyte 4y ago
      thanks!

by fr0sty 4y ago

mlindner 4y ago

A couple months ago I watched an amateur train nerd on youtube cover a derailment that dumped a load of bitumin/tar into a river and destroyed a bridge. This kind of thing happens pretty commonly. No national news covered it, only a couple of local news stations, at least from what I could find on youtube/googling. It's confusing to me why this specific incident got so much attention.

bombcar 4y ago
Probably because it was literally visible from space (one it was lit on fire).
Ar-Curunir 4y ago
Maybe it should be confusing to you why more such harmful derailings are not getting as much attention
katbyte 4y ago
Link? That sounds like a channel I’d be interested in And this got the attention it did because it’s far more severe then one load of tar/bitumen in a river - and far more toxic made potentially worse from the choice to. Burn it off to clear the tracks faster
- mlindner 4y ago
  Youtube has a lot of them. Here's one about a derailment in Nashville. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dZT7TTQqb4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dZT7TTQqb4 Here's the one I mentioned about a derailment in middle of nowhere Iowa that dumped tar into the creek. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HpL0Xk9jTI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HpL0Xk9jTI Here's one of those local news reports: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_pKVdv-Y6Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_pKVdv-Y6Y
  - katbyte 4y ago
    thanks!