Llangennech diesel train catches fire after derailing
 

A freight train carrying diesel has derailed and burst into flames.

People living within 800m of the blaze in Llangennech, near Llanelli in Carmarthenshire, were evacuated from their homes on Wednesday night, but have since been allowed to return.

Police declared a major incident, put a cordon in place and closed roads.

The two workers who were on board the train have been accounted for and no injuries have been reported, British Transport Police (BTP) said.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-...wales-53927802

Some more aerial footage here from ITV news:

https://www.facebook.com/ITVWales/vi...6582032175161/

It is not clear how the tankers ended up in their final positions - it could be from the initial derailment, but also any subsequent explosions could have moved them as well. We will await the RAIB report on this one.

Tony

Will be interesting to squiz the safety compliance of yer Pommy fuel pots.
Petroleum no longer treks by metal here in NSW.
It has been on rubber tyres for yonks.
Our "oil" trains were interesting things to hog.
The pots did have baffles, but upon stopping you could cop the shudder surge through the train from the liquid sloshing back and forth.
You would struggle up hills and then really bolt down hills.
Yes, there were some derailments here with our "oil" trains.
And, I know of one incident when a fire occurred.
There was also an incident of train separation which could have resulting in catastrophe.
That got quickly swept under the carpet.
The Lac Megantic fuel train derailment and bleve in Canada is probably the worst such accident.
Though, the Ruskies did attempt a repeat performance a couple of months later.
Of note was the fact that our NSW oil pots were of the same safety code as those used in Canada.
The USA FRA had banned that type of fuel pot some years earlier.
The general reason for the loss of fuel by rail here in NSW was due to the cost of employment at fuel depots.
A large work force was necessary to be on hand when a fuel train arrived for unloading.
Whereas, today, fuel big rigs can arrive at staggered intervals and the big rig driver unloads it himself.
So, sack all of the now unnecessary fuel depot staff.
Steve.

Learned a new word today – 'bleve'. Though I guess technically it's an acronym.

The video footage featuring the devastation of the Lac Meganitc town after the bleve is truly horrifying.
I would not want to be anywhere near such a fire and explosion.
https://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/enquetes-i.../r13d0054.html
A number of rail procedures were amended after the results of the prang report.
Steve.

The RAIB have published an update with some initial findings:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/d...dated-21092020

The investigation so far shows that the brakes had come on on the third tanker, leading to the leading wheelset to stop rotating; the other three wheelsets continued to turn despite the brakes being on. The leading wheelset developed a significant flat spot, giving it a 'false flange' on the outer edge of the wheels, leading to a this being derailed on a set of points and setting in motion the remainder of the chain of events which unfolded.

Tony

Yep, a decent flat spot, obviously had been dragging for a while.
Though, no scale build up.
Scale build up can derail a wagon when the depth is similar to the actual wheel flange.
Our old NGMA (wheat hoppers) were notorious for sticking brakes.
Brake piston travel was some times extreme.
This would result in sticking brakes after a minimum train brake application and release.
The brake piston not retracting fully and causing dragging brakes on that wagon.
Steve.

The RAIB has now issued Urgent Safety Advice (published 5/11/20):
https://www.gov.uk/government/public...angerous-goods

The investigation found that one of the seals in the relay valve of the 3rd wagon's air braking system was defective and this caused the brakes on this tanker to be applied during the journey. However, it appears that they have been unable to ascertain how and when this relay valve seal had become defective, hence the safety advice published yesterday calls for a review of maintenance processes of these parts.

Tony