Runaway car on Sand Patch Grade!

On Trainorders Eastern Board, a thread discusses a picture caught early this morning on the Sand Patch Webcam at Hyndman. A flatcar with a container on board was seen running downgrade at an estimated 60 mph. As described on the post, here is what happened. A Westbound CSX Intermodal train was approaching Sand Patch Tunnel when the train went into emergency at Manila, between Mance and Sand Patch. Somehow, the rear car of this train separated from the rest of the train and the brakes on it did not set. The car rolled backwards, picking up speed until it reached an estimated 70 mph. It rolled roughly 30 miles all the way East to the bottom of the grade and finally rolled to a stop in downtown Cumberland. Apparently, either no trains were following the train that lost the car.... or else any following trains were crossed over to another track. One post indicates that the dispacther lined the car around any standing trains. At any rate, a tragedy was fortunately averted. Dave Williams @ nsaltoonajohnstown@yahoogroups.com