A double tragedy: How a runaway train and a pipeline fire devastated one neighborhood.
In short: In May 1989, a freight train derailed in San Bernardino, California, after reaching speeds exceeding 100 mph. This documentary examines the mechanical failures and human errors behind the crash, as well as the bizarre, secondary catastrophe that struck the same street less than two weeks later.
On May 12, 1989, Southern Pacific freight train 7551 descended the Cajon Pass at dangerous speeds. The derailment, attributed to incorrect weight calculations and brake failure, resulted in the deaths of four individuals and the destruction of seven homes.
The disaster took a surreal turn thirteen days later when an underground pipeline, damaged during the initial crash, ruptured and triggered a massive fire on the same street. The documentary explores the sequence of oversights and failures that culminated in this rare and tragic chain reaction.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: San Bernardino Train Crash: What Caused This 100mph Runaway Train?
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