Train carrying GTO's derails
 

Saw this on the GTO forum....
http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22153

Need to fix your link.
http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22153


Sucks to be GM, reminds me about when a ship full of Sabb's and BMW's sank
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/...?oneclick=true
http://www.popularmechanics.com/scie...tml?page=1&c=y

Heartbreaker, ain't it? A bunch of the guys on LS1GTO.com were begging the locals there to try to find out which cars were destroyed to see if the ones they've ordered and have been waiting for were in the bunch.

It also reminded me immediately of that boat full of Saabs and Volvos sinking. What a sad waste of lovely expensive cars! Heck of an artificial reef, though... can you picture a school of fish living inside a Volvo?

I remember when this happened to a bunch of classic porshes

Having ordered a car from the factory before, I know how LONG the wait feels like. This is like a kick in the balls for some of those guys I'm sure.

It sucks for the cutomers, but in this case, it doesn't suck to be GM.

All freight rail movements are insured. GM was fully compensated for the every car, just like if they'd made a sale. As a side note, if there is a Federal reportable derailment (overturned railcar) where the freight is automobiles, even if the car was only slightly damaged, like only one broken window, the car must be completely destroyed. If any of those GTO's were meant for the guys on that board, they won't be getting it anyway.

Yeap. I work for the railroad and if we derail a car carrying automobiles, we just take the tractor we used to clean up the wreck and use it to run over the automobiles on the ground. I've seen it happen many times to all sorts of brand-new cars, even if they have no damage whatsoever.

I also work for a railroad, on the financial side. Have already seen this done, too. The movment is insured by the carrier, therefore, the insurance money goes to the carrier which then pays the auto manufacturer for their loss.

A lot of wishful thinking on the part of those guys on the GTO website.

Ummm, is it me or is that STUPID and a waste of a car? You could always take them apart and use the parts that did not receive damage. Free LS2 anyone? Gosh...now I know, if it happens in my area I'm going to make off with a new slightly damaged car...lol

The above happend our our lines a few years back. My company tried to get some of the vehicles that were in good condition for our personal fleet, but both the insurer and the automotive company wouldn't hear of it.

The vehicles were destroyed in a compactor and the video was sent to both us and the auto company by the insurance company for proof.

"...and some are being parted out because of their damage by local citizens helping with cleanup, I will let you guys now of more information."

Isn't that called "looting" in some jurisdictions?

^^^

Looks like the derailment was Union Pacific. I'm sure the UP police department would be interested to know who is parting out the cars.

Almost forgot, I seriously doubt "local citizens" are helping with the clean-up. This would violate union contracts - a serious issue, and is a safety hazard - railroad's are culturally very safety oriented. Not to mention this is trespassing on the right of way, which is the area surrounding the tracks. Not just the actual tracks are railroad property, but usually no less than several feet on either side of the track.

Derailment cleanup is done by contractors, Hulcher is far and away the biggest, almost always in a Class 1 with local non-union exempt management supervising. Unions gave up derailment cleanup rights a long time ago in most places. But, still, local citizens would absolutely positively NOT be allowed anywhere NEAR that derailment site. It's extremely hazardous to be in the areal with heavy equipment all over and hundreds of tons of cars, automobiles, track panels, and freight being righted, lifted, moved, or crushed. Local and Railroad Police would be all over making sure the site was clear of locals.

Couldn't they at least save the tires? There's no moving parts or anything that could be compromised by a crash. Seems like such a waste.

For the love of GOD...can they save anything? It just seems foolish to crush a car with usable parts...it's just wrong, and any car guy that can't understand that....for shame!!!

Well, a guy on LS1gto.com's forum lives in Iowa and saw 14 of the damaged Goats at his Pontiac dealer. He says they'll be fixed and sent to NY for auction:
http://ls1gto.com/forums/showthread....9&highlight=IA

And Wannahave, I agree with you... it's criminal to waste brand-new cars with repairable damage by crushing them. Especially GTOs!

what a great metaphor to GM as a whole! :o

Yeah, Sigma, you're right about the outside contractors doing the major work such as cranes and actually cutting cars if necessary, but at my road I think most is still contractually obligated to the unions.

I'll believe about those 14 cars when I see the pictures and auction transactions. The derailment I spoke of earlier with my company where we tried to buy the cars involved was GM. Both they, and the insurer, would not allow us to use the vehicles or purchase them at a lower rate. Nor was GM allowed to take their vehicles back, they were compacted - I've seen the video (no I can't post it).

Also, why would GM get the cars back if they are being compensated for the costs? Why would they want back damaged cars to send to auction in New York and pay for the logistics to simply get the vehicles there, and then lose money at auction? This doesn't add up. Again, for GM this is as good as a sale. I'm not implying they want derailments, but they are not out any expenses by settling with the railroad's insurer. If they are being compensated for the costs, they are not also entitled to the cars.

What they're saying on that website goes against everything I've seen out of the industry. I don't see why Union Pacific's insurer would handle this differently from any other Class 1's (CSX, BNSF, CPRS, CN, NS). I'll be shocked if any of what they're saying is true.

Do lack of sales, they just wanted to make a bunch of extra parts available to those who mod them.