February 4, 2011

 This is Canadian National locomotive number 2699. It is a 212 ton machine powered by a 183 liter, 4400 hp V16 4 stroke diesel
 Shortly before this picture was taken, while working under load, 2699 experienced what is known in the trade as a "catastrophic uncontained engine failure". The train was passing the town of Independence , LA, at the time. 
The first picture below shows that the engine exploded and one of the 16 cylinder-packs that form the engine was ejected through the engine bay body side and thrown clear of the locomotive.



In addition to this the piston from that cylinder was thrown free by the force of the failure. It was ejected so violently that it traveled through the air and crashed through the roof of a nearby home where it embedded itself in an interior wall.

6 comments:

"Prince Albert" said...

COOL!!!I'm a conductor for the CN in Baton Rouge,La for 11 years,and I didn't even know this bit of excitment.REALLY cool.Ding

Unknown said...

Fix the roof, leave the wall as is...

Travis said...

wow. good thing nobody was killed! I imagine this is gonna bring about some sorta regulatory scatter blanket.. unless there already is an it came through that!

Szábbész said...

Waaaooowwww :D Übercool!!

"bubba" said...

incredible story... never trust in Diesel motor!

Jesse Lee said...

a few years back the local community mulch pile was chipping logs in a huge chipper and a hitch ball got tossed in and ended up going through the roof of the school across the street. wedged into the gym floor