Shutting down because a train nhit a deer?

[strictures]

Metra has lost its mind, shutting down for even a minute because a train hit a deer!

https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/09/30/metra-bnsf-train-delay

 

[artthouwill]

6 hours ago, strictures said:

Metra has lost its mind, shutting down for even a minute because a train hit a deer!

https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/09/30/metra-bnsf-train-delay

 

Deer can cause serious damage.   It can cause a derailment.   It certainly needs to be removed from the tracks. 

[strictures]

11 hours ago, artthouwill said:

Deer can cause serious damage.   It can cause a derailment.   It certainly needs to be removed from the tracks. 

It shouldn't take a long time to remove it & I really doubt it could derail a heavy locomotive or passenger car!

[artthouwill]

3 hours ago, strictures said:

It shouldn't take a long time to remove it & I really doubt it could derail a heavy locomotive or passenger car!

I have seen deer do heavy damage to cars and buses.   A deer is no small animal and can do damage to the train and / or the tracks.   

This apparently happened before sunlight as we know that lights ( whether from a car or train) will freeze a deer. There's no way a train going 70 plus mph is going to avoid hitting that deer.  Even if the train was going 45 if we assume he was approaching the Rt 59 Station, usually by the time the engineer saw the deer, it was already too late do do anything about it.

[strictures]

2 hours ago, artthouwill said:

I have seen deer do heavy damage to cars and buses.   A deer is no small animal and can do damage to the train and / or the tracks.   

This apparently happened before sunlight as we know that lights ( whether from a car or train) will freeze a deer. There's no way a train going 70 plus mph is going to avoid hitting that deer.  Even if the train was going 45 if we assume he was approaching the Rt 59 Station, usually by the time the engineer saw the deer, it was already too late do do anything about it.

A deer couldn't damage the tracks & it's doubtful it could do much damage to a train that's designed to take some damage from another train.  There's a reason the passengers cars have an anti-telescoping structure at each end & the pilot on the engine can take a lot.  Remember, they were originally called "cow catchers"!

[artthouwill]

1 hour ago, strictures said:

A deer couldn't damage the tracks & it's doubtful it could do much damage to a train that's designed to take some damage from another train.  There's a reason the passengers cars have an anti-telescoping structure at each end & the pilot on the engine can take a lot.  Remember, they were originally called "cow catchers"!

There are still protocols to be followed.   The engineer has to do a post accident drug alcohol test.  Animal control has to come out and remove the animal.   There has to be cleanup of blood and any scattered remains.  BNSF has to inspect tracks for any carcass debri or bodily fluid and any possible ( if unlikely) damage to the tracks.  It's really not that much different than hitting a  car or truck with a load.  All in all it didn't take a long time to restore service.   Because of the location it caused delays.

[Busjack]

The only thing I know is that that line is under the complete control of the BNSF and Warren Buffett hasn't chosen me to work for his company. I'll bet none of the other posters here work there either.