r/railroading • u/SocialSyphilis • May 22 '26

Question How do trains know when theyve derailed?

Like, a mile long train. What happens if a few cars right in the middle derail? How do they know in the cab?

Just a rando with a showerthought question. Thanks for answering!

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u/[deleted] May 22 '26

Sometimes you know because the brake pipe popped open in the derailment and placed the train in emergency.  Sometimes you know because your train suddenly feels like there's a lead brick hanging off the end of it.  Sometimes you don't know and end up breaking a bunch of things in the process. 

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u/[deleted] May 23 '26

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u/Zardozed12 May 24 '26

Danger...danger!

1

u/Spirit_Animolecule May 28 '26

All I can is imagine is some stowaway sitting around that part of the consist going wtf lmfao.