Train derails and proceeds to catch fire in Manchester

[andel]

Or a 220.

[Ploes]

Does anyone know what order it happed in yet?

Was it on fire, and then fell off the tracks?
Or fell off the tracks, then caught fire?

[Ameecher]

The latter, ruptured fuel tanks as a result of the derailment.

[JamieLei]

The latter, ruptured fuel tanks as a result of the derailment.

My mild dyslexia read that the wrong way round: "The latter, derailed fuel tanks as the result of the rapture".

[Nawdic]

According to another forum, the loco that caught fire was 47500.

[YNM]

The latter, ruptured fuel tanks as a result of the derailment.

How what ? Ruptured tanks ?
Must be a weakened structure. Or flaws. Or such.

[Dave]

No, it's quite common for derailed trains to have some sort of fire, because of this. Most British locos/units have their fuel tanks in the lower part of the structure.

And any force equal to that of a derailment is going to call into question the fuel tank's integrity, especially with a train that is 40-50 years old.

[jonnie47]

my friend who works for network rail mentioned that it may have been the radius of the curve being to tight. Not sure how but when he finds out i will let you no

[Pilot]

Definitely not! That track is used by a variety of Trains everyday, and the 47's used to use it a lot, blaming it on Curve Radii would be incorrect, there not even that sharp round there either.

[Kevo00]

There was a fire involving the DMU (a 165, I think) in the Ladbroke Grove crash. That was in a newish train, so imagine how big the risk would be in an old loco built in a less health and safety conscious era.

It's all speculation, but you cannot blame curve radii - it's how the driver takes the curve that counts (think of Morpeth).

[jonnie47]

my friend who works for network rail mentioned that it may have been the radius of the curve being to tight. Not sure how but when he finds out i will let you no

He also mentioned a possible points failure, but nothing is certain yet.

[Dave]

There was indeed a fuel tank rupture at Ladbroke Grove.

I'd be more inclined to say a possible points failure under the train. Specualtion.