I'm not sure how this happened but it seems to be bad trackwork

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmWfezIFmHE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmWfezIFmHE

Wood tie failure makes sense - the crossing would face extra stress from being on a curve, and the asphalt cap over the ties would both accelerate wood rot on the ties and hide it from view and inspection. They aren't going to strip the road away from the crossings to inspect the ties without a real good reason - and I'll bet they just found it...

But this really calls for an Official accident investigation and answer. We're only guessing till then.

At least with the new cast concrete crossing cover systems you could get out there with a small crane and pop it open for inspection, then put the roadway back down with no long term closures. And there are also the ones that have the big molded rubber mats (spiked/bolted down) that make up the crossings. Still a lot of work, but at least possible.

--<< Bruce >>--