Transcript LOCOMOTIVE EMERGENCIES

LOCOMOTIVE
EMERGENCIES
Seaside Fire Department
2006
Locomotive Emergency
Response Operations
Topics
Approaching the Site
 Entering the Locomotive
 Flagging Oncoming Trains
 Case Studies
 Driving Tips – Look, Listen, Live
 Crossing Information
 Signs & Warning Devices

Approaching the Site

Moving trains have the right of way under
all circumstances. Even when responding
to an emergency, you should never try to
beat a train at a grade crossing.

Upon arrival to an incident involving a train
emergency, the fire department should
establish command.

Move all non-essential personnel away from
the perimeter of the train wreck and ensure
that bystanders do not approach.

Notify railroads to stop all approaching
trains and then send out flaggers. Always
look out for trains at all times, from both
directions, until flaggers have had time to
set up at appropriate distances from wreck.

Before entering the
site, use air monitoring
equipment to
determine air purity.
Look out for hazardous conditions such as slippery
surfaces, sharp edges on damaged equipment, and
downed power lines.

Determine if any electrical, mechanical, and/or
chemical hazards exist.


In case of an electric locomotive wreck,
consider all wires “live” unless confirmed
“dead” by a qualified expert. If the
department has testing equipment, use that
to test the catenary.

Locomotives carry thousands of gallons of
diesel fuel that may have leaked during the
wreck. Suppress diesel vapors by spreading
a blanket of foam. Reapply foam if the
blanket is compromised.

Contact the railroad dispatcher for
information on how many crew members
are on board and if hazardous cargo exists
on train.

Ensure ambulance and public safety
vehicles have access to site.
Entering the Locomotive

Keep spectators, unnecessary personnel,
and unnecessary apparatus and equipment
away from the train wreck.

Shut off power to the locomotives using the
emergency shut-off valves located on the
exterior near the fuel tanks and also inside
the cab.

Before entering, ensure stability of
locomotive and stability of surrounding
train cars that have the potential to slide
onto the locomotive.

Never climb on the roof of an electric
locomotive and do not let personnel or
ladders come within 8 feet of any segment
of the catenary system.

Look for crew members in the nose of the
locomotive, near the collision posts. If crew
members are unaccounted for, check beside
the tracks in the event that they jumped
from the train.

Side windows are wider than the doors and
easier to remove than the windshield. These
windows might be the best option for victim
removal.

If you cannot access any door or window,
the roof is the best choice for cutting as it is
made with a thinner skin of steel than the
sides or the nose.

Be sure to spray a continual foam blanket
(or water spray if foam is not available)
while cutting, to suppress any diesel vapors.

If at night, ensure adequate exterior
lighting.

In cases where the locomotive is toppled, a
4:1 mechanical advantage pulley might be
the best method for lifting heavier people
trapped inside the cab.
Flagging Oncoming Trains


Make sure both flaggers
are wearing reflective
clothing and are equipped
with three, 30-minute
flares.
Send out a qualified
flagger in both directions
from the wreck site. Law
enforcement personnel
may be available to assist
with flagging.
Swung
RightAngle
Angletotothe
theTrack.
Track
Swung
atatRight
STOP
STOP

Flaggers may need to go as far as 2 miles in
either direction of the wreck in order to stop
approaching trains in time. Check with the
railroad dispatcher to determine the
appropriate locations for flaggers.

Each flagger should wave a lit flare back
and forth in front of him/her at a right angle
to the track as soon as oncoming train is
heard or seen.
Case Studies - Death in the Line
of Duty
In march of 2002, a 48-yr old volunteer
firefighter in Kentucky, driving a tanker
truck, received fatal injuries after being
struck by a freight train and thrown from his
vehicle as he attempted to cross a private,
ungated railroad crossing. The firefighter
was returning the apparatus to the station
following a training exercise.
Two years earlier, a 31-yr old career firefighter in
N. Carolina died after the ladder truck he was
driving collided with a train at a railroad crossing
with two sets of tracks. He was returning to the
station after a false alarm. The gates at the
crossing were down and warning lights activated.
The northbound train moved slowly forward, then
stopped after clearing the crossing to wait for
permission from the dispatcher to proceed. A
tanker car obstructed the firefighter’s view of an
approaching southbound train. He drove around
the first lowered gate, over the tracks and into the
path of the second train. The force of the impact
ejected the firefighter from his vehicle, resulting in
his death.
Driving Tips
LOOK!

Plan your routes to avoid highway-rail
grade crossings. Otherwise, use crossing
with active warnings and clear sightlines
down railroad tracks in both directions.

LOOK both ways before crossing. Trains
can come from either direction.

Come to a complete stop at all crossings
with passive warning devices (no gates or
flashing lights). Use caution and be
prepared to STOP at all crossings with
active warning devices (flashing lights,
gates). Per NFPA Standard 1500 Sec. 42.8.

When stopped be sure your front or rear
bumper clears the nearest track by at least
15 feet.
LISTEN…

Before crossing, roll down windows, turn
off siren and radio, and listen for train horn.
Live
Always…heed flashing lights, closing gates and
stop signs.
Wait…until safely through the
crossing before shifting gears or
passing.
Never…back up or stop on tracks. If gate comes
down on the vehicle, keep going through the
crossing.
Crossing Information
Most railroad crossings have information that
identifies their location, the railroad that uses that
track, and an emergency 800 contact number.
This information needs to be used when:
Your
vehicle is caught on the crossing and/or
in some way blocks the tract OR
The
incident you are responding to involves a
vehicle or pedestrian on or near a crossing.
Locate the U.S. DOT Inventory Crossing Number
(six numbers and a letter) that identifies your
location, and the toll-free emergency contact
number. These numbers are usually found on the
crossbuck post or the post where the crossing
gates are secured. Call the phone number
provided and report your emergency.
Example of U.S. DOT Inventory Crossing Number. This number can usually be
found on the sign with contact information.
Recommended Emergency Notification Format
Example of posted sign
Signs & Warning Devices
ADVANCE WARNING SIGN
Posted on side of road to denote railroad tracks ahead
PAVEMENT MARKING
Denotes railroad crossing ahead
CROSSBUCK
Firefighter apparatus must come to a
complete stop per NFPA standards
HUMPED – HIGH PROFILE CROSSING
Low clearance vehicles should not attempt to cross.
You may get hung up on tracks.
CROSSBUCK and FLASHING LIGHTS
A train is coming…DO NOT cross!!!
CROSSBUCK, LOWERED GATES and FLASHING
LIGHTS
A train is coming- DO NOT drive around the gates!!!
If a Train Comes…
If your vehicle becomes hung up or stalls on the
crossing, get everyone out and keep a safe
distance from the tracks. If time permits before
exiting, turn on the vehicle’s emergency lighting
system (strobe light, flashers). If you hear or see a
train approaching, move everyone at the crossing
away from the tracks in the direction of the
oncoming train. When a locomotive strikes a
vehicle, it pushes it forward. By heading in the
direction of the oncoming locomotive you’ll be
moving away from any debris resulting from the
impact.
Did you know…
Approximately every 2 hours, a train hits a person or vehicle.
Nearly half of all vehicle-train collisions occur at crossings with
functioning, active warning devices.
Trains cannot stop quickly or swerve to avoid collisions – an average
train going 55 mph takes more than a mile to stop!
Optical Illusion – Trains are much closer and moving faster than
they appear to be.
Average freight trains weigh about 12,000,000 pounds; average fire
apparatus weigh about 20,000 pounds. The train is some 600 times
heavier. In a collision, the fire apparatus loses!
Emergencies add urgency to decision making- going through
crossing warnings may create a second emergency, distract fellow
responders, and cost your life.