Shunting at speed 
2003 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance
This story is taken from Finnish Accident Investigation Board's report. The report can be found at http://www.onnettomuustutkinta.fi/uploads/cvirvs2lrt0dx.pdf - most of the report is finnish only but contains english summary and some pictures and schematics of happening.
The incident happened in private rail yard where a train crew consisting of engineer and two other members (responsible for throwing switches and coupling and uncouplin of cars) were moving freight cars to their unloading points. The cars still to be delivered were 13 loaded timber cars and a loaded ammonnia car behind them. The engineer and another member of the crew were riding in the engine and the last member was riding on stepboard of the ammonia car, holding on to handrail for balance. This is quite common and allowed practice since maximum speed in shunting work is 5kph - however the next stunt was anything but allowed.
The ammonia car had to backed to the correct track due to the layout of the yard while rest of the cars had to taken to point few kilometers further. Normal procedure would have been to stop after the switch, back to correct track, uncouple the ammonia car and then to continue with rest of the train. However the conditions were unusually slippery and after the switch the track entered a slight slope, so the engineer wasn't sure if the yard engine could start moving with the loaded cars, so he decided that the car would be left further along after the slope where the train could be stopped and informed the member of the crew riding in the last car about this. This however would lengthen the work for quite some time, so the crew member decided to uncouple the car while the train was moving - without informing the rest of the crew.
Direct quote from the accident report descripes the happenings best:
"While the train was moving the crew member moved from stepboard to fender and coupler, uncoupling the car from rest of the train. Uncoupling must have proceeded as follows: First, while hanging from ammonia car's handrail, he closed the car's switch valve. Then while hanging from timber car's handrail he closed the switch valve of timber car. Next he disconnected the inter-car brake hose with his foot. Lastly he disconnected the coupler, uncoupling the cars."
After this quite impressive acrobatic feat (neither the fender nor the coupler give no real foothold to stand on - most people would need all of their concetration to stay upright in position like even in slow speed like that) the innovative crew member still had to stop the car in right place. For that purpose he intended to use the brake valve next to his foot ner the coupler. However when the inter-car brake hose is disconnected, opening the brake valve causes automatic maximum-strength braking - a fact which the crew member should've been aware. The strength of the braking apparently surprised the crew member - standing now only on one foot on the fender, holding on the handrail. He was thrown off the car on the rail where the front wheels run over his mid-body, killing him instantly. The ammonia car stopped 4,5 meters after starting the braking - about 150 meters too early. Submitted on 01/28/2003
Submitted by:
Anonymous
Reference:
FAIB report C11/1996 R
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