to skip right to wheel slip skip to 4:35. For more details and timestamps continue reading.
On Thursday April 27th, 2023 my dad and I were chasing WNYP’s Oil City turn south from Meadville. After making a brief pause to make sure traffic was stopped the train tried to get going but didn’t quite have enough power. The crew throttled up which resulted in one set of trucks on engine 430 to wheel slip for about 18 seconds. In my 12+ years of railfanning this is hands down the craziest thing I have ever seen. Also please note that the Oil City Fire and Police Departments stopped the train north of town and told the crew about what had happened. Hope you enjoy the video! Additional timestamps below:
2:43: The train makes a brief pause to make sure that traffic on the road will stop before they proceed through town.
3:15: The train proceeds forward
4:22: The crew throttles up the locomotives in an attempt to lug the the train up the small hill
4:35: Wheel slip begins. Bystanders can be seen running away on the other side of the train (look between the engine and the first car).
4:51: Wheel slip ends. The excessive amount of sparks has caught the railroad right of way on fire.
5:19: The crew pushes all the slack together to help get the train going again
5:30: The train gets going again and continues on its way through town.
6:18: A small truck from the Oil City Fire Department is already on scene. They either witnessed it happen too or pulled up and saw the fire.
7:34: The train clears the scene. Another bystander can be heard saying “Tracks on fire!”
7:42: Damage to the rail from the wheel slip is visible. At this time a firefighter steps on to the tracks to extinguish any remaining fire. You can hear sirens in the background as more emergency vehicles were on their way.