Tornado in Nebraska passes over a BNSF train during the tornado outbreak on April 26. Video taken by one of the crewmen in the engine captures the moment.
On Friday, April 26, an outbreak of tornadoes struck the United States Plains. More outbreaks continued over the course of the weekend, totaling 135 reports of tornadoes, although surveys are still being conducted to validate the reports.
Nebraska was one of the states subject to the destructive tornadoes. A conductor and engineer working on a freight train in Nebraska ended up getting an up-close and personal view of one of those tornadoes.
At the beginning of the video, the tornado can be seen in the distance. Cars are still driving along the highway that the train tracks run adjacent to. This video is a good example of how deceiving tornadoes can look, as it appears to not be moving anywhere at first glance. It’s vital to remember that if a tornado doesn’t look like it’s moving anywhere, that’s because it’s moving straight towards you.
As the video progresses, winds begin to pick up and whip treetops around. Boards and other building materials are flown across the train tracks as the tornado appears to hit a nearby building.
While some people may be wondering why they weren’t seeking shelter at a nearby building, a standard engine (also called a locomotive) can weigh between 100 and 200 tons. They are sturdily built to endure all kinds of weather and outside forces, so it’s pretty hard for a tornado to flip one over, although it can and has happened before. Ducking to shield their heads from flying debris that might smash a window was the safest course of action to take.
The whole ordeal only lasted a short moment, but from the video, viewers can see the aftermath of tree limbs thrown about everywhere, dirt caking the train, and even one of the side windows shattered.
The tornado also derailed several railcars, completely flipping them off the tracks and rendering the train immobile. Luckily, both men were uninjured.
