How to Escape a derailing train?

I don't see any way you're going to get ahead of a train by running.  My instinct would be to put distance between me and the rail, in case something tips over (which often happens.  When I set up for a photo, I always leave myself an escape route, and I'm ready to start running at any moment.  I leave some space between me and the train.  If my shot requiers being close to the rail, I hook a trigger to my camera and shoot remotely.  I've been around when trains came off the rail.

Kent in SD

I doubt it, that would be like trying to out run a speeding train. Personally I never pull up close to the crossing gates at a RR crossing. I hang back just for safety. If others want to go around me a drive right up to the gates (stupid, where they gonna go? ) I let them. If a train derails, I'm already back far enough to escape it. Just being cautious.

I'm going to say "no".  I would also want to put as much distance between me and the danger as possible and to me that means getting away from the track at a right angle.  If a train derails at high speed, the debris is going to move along the axis of travel and is probably going to do so faster than you can run.  I would be interested in hearing this railroad employee's logic.

I use my Spidey-sense, shoot a line overhead and pull myself clear of the mess.  Anything else is just a gamble.

Spidey sense? How many times HAVE spiders escaped your swat!??!  

If a spider excapes MY swat...I just get 'em with my size 13 shoe...LOL!

If your car gets stuck or stalls  on the tracks and a train is coming, you're supposed to get out and run towards the train. That way you will be "upwind" of your car and all its pieces after impact, as you don't really know where your car is going to go when it's hit.

Perhaps that's what they were talking about?

J White

Trying to outrun something is only good for the movies.  And there it is only to give the special effect folks/stunt people a job making the inevitable resulting collision look amazing. 

Having said that, it is very situational.  At the point of loss of directional control all the mass inertia is in the tangential direction of motion.  It will take some type of non tangential [counter]force to change the direction of inertia.  Assuming there is some place to go, between perpendicular and about 60 degrees from mass moving towards you is probably the going to require the least amount of distance to get clear.

If the point of loss of control is on a curve the uncontrolled direction becomes tangential so 6 railroad cars that derail and uncouple at 6 different points along the curve will move in 6 different tangents likely towards the outside of the curve.  So, if you are trying to avoid the 1st car in the line remember the 6th will be moving in a line much further away from the tracks than the 1st by the time it gets to you.

God, I suck at explaining physics.

Running parallel to the track sounds like the tongue-in-cheek advice given to someone who finds themselves on a rifle range with a very poor marksman behind the gun. If neither he nor you know which way the bullets will fly, the safest spot might be right in front of the target.

Jim

Why jump, unless it is a head on collision?  LOCOMOTION

The dynamics of every derailment is different.  Speed of the train, track failure, mechanical failure, surrounding area, weather, even what the train is hauling. 

You may not even have the time to decide on which way to run.

Rusty

I remember a staged impact with a Ford Aero Star van several years ago. The rear tailgate - Door blew out and flew 150 feet! No one was hurt , except the safety crews reputation that set it up!

Does any body have that video?

You guys can jump all you want.  I just turn off the transformer.

Haven't been killed yet.

alan

I'd have to concur with Rusty.  You would be far better to stand well clear of the tracks when a train is approaching than to make an attempt to figure out which way to run if it were to derail.  

Curt