List of wind-related railway accidents
Encyclopedia
High winds can blow railway trains off tracks and cause accidents.
High winds
High winds can cause problems in a number of ways:- blow trains off the tracks.
- blow trains or wagons along the tracks and cause collisions.
- cause pantographs and overhead wiring to tangle.
Preventative measures
Risks from high winds can be reduced by:- wind fences akin to snow sheds
- lower profile of carriages
- reduction in train speed
China
- Lanxin High-Speed Railway#Wind related accident
- List of rail accidents (2000–2009) - February 28, 2007 – Wind blows 10 passenger rail cars off the track near Turpan, China.
India
- One reason for choosing broad gaugeBroad gaugeBroad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
in IndiaRail transport in IndiaRail transport is a commonly used mode of long-distance transportation in India. Almost all rail operations in India are handled by a state-owned organisation, Indian Railways, Ministry of Railways. The rail network traverses the length and breadth of the country, covering a total length of...
for for greater stability in high winds.
United Kingdom
- Tay Bridge disasterTay Bridge disasterThe Tay Bridge disaster occurred on 28 December 1879, when the first Tay Rail Bridge, which crossed the Firth of Tay between Dundee and Wormit in Scotland, collapsed during a violent storm while a train was passing over it. The bridge was designed by the noted railway engineer Sir Thomas Bouch,...
- Chelford rail accidentChelford rail accidentThe Chelford rail accident occurred on 22 December 1894 at Chelford railway station. The stationmaster was supervising shunting operations, during which a high-sided wagon was fly-shunted into a siding in strong winds and rapidly fading light...
1894 - during shunting - East Coast Main Line#Accidents
- Snowdon Mountain Railway#Gripper rail
- Leven Viaduct, Cumbria 27 February 1903
United States
- One reason for choosing broad gaugeBroad gaugeBroad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
in BARTBay Area Rapid TransitBay Area Rapid Transit is a rapid transit system serving the San Francisco Bay Area. The heavy-rail public transit and subway system connects San Francisco with cities in the East Bay and suburbs in northern San Mateo County. BART operates five lines on of track with 44 stations in four counties...
was for greater stability in high winds and perhaps earthquakes. - Tacoma bridge collapse. This was where resonance caused a bridge to set up a harmonic and effectively shake itself to pieces.