# Train Derailment disctance

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-derailment-disctance/127009>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 4, 2002, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-derailment-disctance/127009 "2002-09-04T18:40:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![kaosrising](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/278dde/32.png) [@kaosrising](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaosrising)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-derailment-disctance/127009/1 "2002-09-04T18:40:43Z")

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I work for a township in Michigan and am doing some research about train derailment. Recently a train derailed in a nearby town and that has caused a review of the setback regulations from rail road tracks. The setbacks are currently at 175 feet, but the Board wants to move them back to 250 feet. Now, what i’ve been searching for is how far a derailed train car can go. I’ve tried google but i can’t find anything on distance. Any help with this would be much appreciated.

Thanks

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**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-derailment-disctance/127009/2 "2002-09-04T19:02:37Z")

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IANA Engineer but I’d think the variables of speed, tonnage being carried and number of cars derailing would all have to enter into the calculation.

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**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-derailment-disctance/127009/3 "2002-09-04T19:08:22Z")

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IANA Engineer but I’d think the variables of speed, tonnage being carried and number of cars derailing would all have to enter into the calculation.

Also, the medium they’d be plowing through should be considered. They’re going to go further across a hard surface like limestone or solid rock than through sand.

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**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-derailment-disctance/127009/4 "2002-09-04T19:41:46Z")

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From a derailment in [Kansas City](http://www.kcstar.com/item/pages/home.pat,local/30dae856.414,.html):

> [@](#):
>
> The locked wheel was about a third of the train’s length from the engine. Twenty-six cars of the 121-car train derailed and crunched into the length of about two city blocks. It appeared that part of the train dragged for up to three miles…

I suspect that the “three mile” number is for cars dragged along the rails; travel away from the rails requires derailing additional cars, changing momentum by up to ninety degrees, and overcoming friction with the ground (and possibly digging up ground). I can’t imagine that either number will keep you safe from all derailments.

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**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/train-derailment-disctance/127009/5 "2002-09-04T20:00:59Z")

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Further, is there an incline or decline between the tracks and the perimeter?