Train wreck

A train accident or train wreck is a type of disaster involving two or more trains. Train wrecks often occur as a result of miscommunication, as when a moving train meets another train on the same track, when the wheels of train come off the track or when a boiler explosion occurs. Train accidents have often been widely covered in popular media and in folklore.

For other uses, see Train wreck (disambiguation).

A head-on collision between two trains is colloquially called a "cornfield meet" in the United States.[1]

Causes

Train accidents can occur due to a range of factors, including one or more of the following:

  • Human error – One of the leading causes of train accidents is human error. This can involve train operators failing to adhere to safety protocols, distraction, fatigue, impaired judgment, or inadequate training.
  • Mechanical failures – Equipment malfunctions or failures, such as faulty brakes, defective signaling systems, or problems with locomotives or railcars, can contribute to train accidents.
  • Track and infrastructure issues – Poorly maintained tracks, inadequate inspection procedures, or infrastructure deficiencies like weakened bridges or faulty switches can lead to accidents.
  • Weather conditions – Severe weather conditions, including heavy rain, snowstorms, or extreme heat, can impact track conditions, visibility, and the overall safety of train operations.
  • Sabotage - People who break, place something, or destroy tracks, this is called rail sabotage.[2]
  • Attack - Anyone such as terrorists or shooters disrupted rail traffic such as bombing or shooting on a train.[3]
  • Train wreck in Rainy River District, Ontario, in the 1900s.

See also

References
  1. "Definition of CORNFIELD MEET". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  2. "Are the railroads being sabotaged causing derailments?". 19 February 2023.
  3. "Train Wrecks and Track Attacks: An Analysis of Attempts by Terrorists and Other Extremists to Derail Trains or Disrupt Rail Transportation". 20 July 2018.

Further reading
  • Aldrich, Mark. Death Rode the Rails: American Railroad Accidents and Safety, 1828–1965 (2006) excerpt
  • Vaughan, Adrian. Obstruction Danger: Significant British Railway Accidents, 1890–1986 (Motorbooks International, 1989). online
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