LOCOMOTIVE LOCOMOTIVE EMERGENCIESEMERGENCIES

Seaside Fire DepartmentSeaside Fire Department

20062006

Locomotive Emergency Locomotive Emergency Response OperationsResponse Operations

TopicsTopics

Approaching the SiteApproaching the Site Entering the LocomotiveEntering the Locomotive Flagging Oncoming TrainsFlagging Oncoming Trains Case StudiesCase Studies Driving Tips – Driving Tips – Look, Listen, LiveLook, Listen, Live Crossing InformationCrossing Information Signs & Warning DevicesSigns & Warning Devices

Approaching the SiteApproaching the Site

Moving trains have the right of way under Moving trains have the right of way under all circumstances. Even when responding all circumstances. Even when responding to an emergency, you should never try to to an emergency, you should never try to beat a train at a grade crossing. beat a train at a grade crossing.

Upon arrival to an incident involving a train Upon arrival to an incident involving a train emergency, the fire department should emergency, the fire department should establish command.establish command.

Move all non-essential personnel away Move all non-essential personnel away from the perimeter of the train wreck and from the perimeter of the train wreck and ensure that bystanders do not approach.ensure that bystanders do not approach.

Notify railroads to stop all approaching Notify railroads to stop all approaching trains and then send out flaggers. Always trains and then send out flaggers. Always look out for trains at all times, from both look out for trains at all times, from both directions, until flaggers have had time to directions, until flaggers have had time to set up at appropriate distances from wreck.set up at appropriate distances from wreck.

Before entering the Before entering the site, use air monitoring site, use air monitoring equipment to equipment to determine air purity.determine air purity.

Look out for hazardous conditions such as slippery Look out for hazardous conditions such as slippery surfaces, sharp edges on damaged equipment, and surfaces, sharp edges on damaged equipment, and downed power lines.downed power lines.

Determine if any electrical, mechanical, and/or Determine if any electrical, mechanical, and/or chemical hazards exist.chemical hazards exist.

Locomotives carry thousands of gallons of Locomotives carry thousands of gallons of diesel fuel that may have leaked during the diesel fuel that may have leaked during the wreck. Suppress diesel vapors by spreading wreck. Suppress diesel vapors by spreading a blanket of foam. Reapply foam if the a blanket of foam. Reapply foam if the blanket is compromised.blanket is compromised.

In case of an electric locomotive wreck, In case of an electric locomotive wreck, consider all wires “live” unless confirmed consider all wires “live” unless confirmed “dead” by a qualified expert. If the “dead” by a qualified expert. If the department has testing equipment, use that department has testing equipment, use that to test the catenary.to test the catenary.

Contact the railroad dispatcher for Contact the railroad dispatcher for information on how many crew members information on how many crew members are on board and if hazardous cargo exists are on board and if hazardous cargo exists on train. on train.

Ensure ambulance and public safety Ensure ambulance and public safety vehicles have access to site. vehicles have access to site.

Entering the LocomotiveEntering the Locomotive

Keep spectators, unnecessary personnel, Keep spectators, unnecessary personnel, and unnecessary apparatus and equipment and unnecessary apparatus and equipment away from the train wreck.away from the train wreck.

Shut off power to the locomotives using the Shut off power to the locomotives using the emergency shut-off valves located on the emergency shut-off valves located on the exterior near the fuel tanks and also inside exterior near the fuel tanks and also inside the cab.the cab.

Before entering, ensure stability of Before entering, ensure stability of locomotive and stability of surrounding locomotive and stability of surrounding train cars that have the potential to slide train cars that have the potential to slide onto the locomotive.onto the locomotive.

Never climb on the roof of an electric Never climb on the roof of an electric locomotive and do not let personnel or locomotive and do not let personnel or ladders come within 8 feet of any segment ladders come within 8 feet of any segment of the catenary system.of the catenary system.

Look for crew members in the nose of the Look for crew members in the nose of the locomotive, near the collision posts. If locomotive, near the collision posts. If crew members are unaccounted for, check crew members are unaccounted for, check beside the tracks in the event that they beside the tracks in the event that they jumped from the train.jumped from the train.

Side windows are wider than the doors and Side windows are wider than the doors and easier to remove than the windshield. easier to remove than the windshield. These windows might be the best option for These windows might be the best option for victim removal. victim removal.

If you cannot access any door or window, If you cannot access any door or window, the roof is the best choice for cutting as it is the roof is the best choice for cutting as it is made with a thinner skin of steel than the made with a thinner skin of steel than the sides or the nose.sides or the nose.

Be sure to spray a continual foam blanket Be sure to spray a continual foam blanket (or water spray if foam is not available) (or water spray if foam is not available) while cutting, to suppress any diesel vapors.while cutting, to suppress any diesel vapors.

If at night, ensure adequate exterior If at night, ensure adequate exterior lighting.lighting.

In cases where the locomotive is toppled, a In cases where the locomotive is toppled, a 4:1 mechanical advantage pulley might be 4:1 mechanical advantage pulley might be the best method for lifting heavier people the best method for lifting heavier people trapped inside the cab.trapped inside the cab.

Flagging Oncoming TrainsFlagging Oncoming Trains

Make sure both flaggers Make sure both flaggers are wearing reflective are wearing reflective clothing and are equipped clothing and are equipped with three, 30-minute with three, 30-minute flares.flares.

Swung at Right Angle to the Track.

STOP

Swung at Right Angle to the Track

STOP

Send out a qualified Send out a qualified flagger in both directions flagger in both directions from the wreck site. Law from the wreck site. Law enforcement personnel enforcement personnel may be available to assist may be available to assist with flagging.with flagging.

Flaggers may need to go as far as 2 miles in Flaggers may need to go as far as 2 miles in either direction of the wreck in order to stop either direction of the wreck in order to stop approaching trains in time. Check with the approaching trains in time. Check with the railroad dispatcher to determine the railroad dispatcher to determine the appropriate locations for flaggers.appropriate locations for flaggers.

Each flagger should wave a lit flare back Each flagger should wave a lit flare back and forth in front of him/her at a right angle and forth in front of him/her at a right angle to the track as soon as oncoming train is to the track as soon as oncoming train is heard or seen.heard or seen.

Case StudiesCase Studies - Death in the Line - Death in the Line of Dutyof Duty

In march of 2002, a 48-yr old volunteer In march of 2002, a 48-yr old volunteer firefighter in Kentucky, driving a tanker firefighter in Kentucky, driving a tanker truck, received fatal injuries after being truck, received fatal injuries after being struck by a freight train and thrown from struck by a freight train and thrown from his vehicle as he attempted to cross a his vehicle as he attempted to cross a private, ungated railroad crossing. The private, ungated railroad crossing. The firefighter was returning the apparatus to firefighter was returning the apparatus to the station following a training exercise.the station following a training exercise.

Two years earlier, a 31-yr old career firefighter in Two years earlier, a 31-yr old career firefighter in N. Carolina died after the ladder truck he was N. Carolina died after the ladder truck he was driving collided with a train at a railroad crossing driving collided with a train at a railroad crossing with two sets of tracks. He was returning to the with two sets of tracks. He was returning to the station after a false alarm. The gates at the station after a false alarm. The gates at the crossing were down and warning lights activated. crossing were down and warning lights activated. The northbound train moved slowly forward, then The northbound train moved slowly forward, then stopped after clearing the crossing to wait for stopped after clearing the crossing to wait for permission from the dispatcher to proceed. A permission from the dispatcher to proceed. A tanker car obstructed the firefighter’s view of an tanker car obstructed the firefighter’s view of an approaching southbound train. He drove around approaching southbound train. He drove around the first lowered gate, over the tracks and into the the first lowered gate, over the tracks and into the path of the second train. The force of the impact path of the second train. The force of the impact ejected the firefighter from his vehicle, resulting in ejected the firefighter from his vehicle, resulting in his death.his death.

Driving TipsDriving Tips

LOOKLOOK!!

Plan your routes to avoid highway-rail Plan your routes to avoid highway-rail grade crossings. Otherwise, use crossing grade crossings. Otherwise, use crossing with active warnings and clear sightlines with active warnings and clear sightlines down railroad tracks in both directions.down railroad tracks in both directions.

LOOK both ways before crossing. Trains LOOK both ways before crossing. Trains can come from either direction.can come from either direction.

Come to a complete stop at all crossings Come to a complete stop at all crossings with passive warning devices (no gates or with passive warning devices (no gates or flashing lights). Use caution and flashing lights). Use caution and be be prepared toprepared to STOP at all crossings with STOP at all crossings with active warning devices (flashing lights, active warning devices (flashing lights, gates). gates). Per NFPA Standard 1500 Sec. 4-Per NFPA Standard 1500 Sec. 4-2.8.2.8.

When stopped be sure your front or rear When stopped be sure your front or rear bumper clears the nearest track by at least bumper clears the nearest track by at least 15 feet. 15 feet.

LISTENLISTEN……

Before crossing, roll down windows, turn Before crossing, roll down windows, turn off siren and radio, and listen for train horn.off siren and radio, and listen for train horn.

LiveLive

AlwaysAlways…heed flashing lights, closing gates and stop …heed flashing lights, closing gates and stop signs.signs.

WaitWait…until safely through the …until safely through the crossing before shifting gears or crossing before shifting gears or passing.passing.

NeverNever…back up or stop on tracks. If gate comes …back up or stop on tracks. If gate comes down on the vehicle, keep going through the down on the vehicle, keep going through the crossing. crossing.

Crossing InformationCrossing Information

Most railroad crossings have information that Most railroad crossings have information that identifies their location, the railroad that uses that identifies their location, the railroad that uses that track, and an emergency 800 contact number. track, and an emergency 800 contact number. This information needs to be used when:This information needs to be used when:

Your vehicle is caught on the crossing and/or Your vehicle is caught on the crossing and/or in some way blocks the tract in some way blocks the tract OROR

The incident you are responding to involves a The incident you are responding to involves a vehicle or pedestrian on or near a crossing. 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 DevicesSigns & Warning Devices

ADVANCE WARNING SIGN

Posted on side of road to denote railroad tracks ahead

PAVEMENT MARKINGDenotes 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 a Train Comes…

If your vehicle becomes hung up or stalls on the If your vehicle becomes hung up or stalls on the crossing, get everyone out and keep a safe distance crossing, get everyone out and keep a safe distance from the tracks. If time permits before exiting, turn from the tracks. If time permits before exiting, turn on the vehicle’s emergency lighting system (strobe on the vehicle’s emergency lighting system (strobe light, flashers). If you hear or see a train light, flashers). If you hear or see a train approaching, move everyone at the crossing away approaching, move everyone at the crossing away from the tracks in the direction of the oncoming from the tracks in the direction of the oncoming train. When a locomotive strikes a vehicle, it train. When a locomotive strikes a vehicle, it pushes it forward. By heading in the direction of pushes it forward. By heading in the direction of the oncoming locomotive you’ll be moving away the oncoming locomotive you’ll be moving away from any debris resulting from the impact.from any debris resulting from the impact.

Did you know…Did you know… Approximately every 2 hours, a train hits a person or vehicle.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.