AMTRAK derailment....

[aap1966]

Originally Posted by wildthing

You'd think with today's technology, these trains would automatically slow down based on their location.

+1

By now you'd think it would be the dog/man arrangement in the cabin.


(The dog is there to bite the man if he touches anything, the man is there to feed the dog).

[widgeon13]

I don't even think PTC eliminates jobs, it's just a safety gap to insure things like this can be avoided.

If the engineer lawyered up and unioned up as well what do you bet he/she has some prior experience ****ing up in these situations??

Hate to see a good union employee lose their job over a few dead people.

[Crack4h8r's]

They will, the tech is mandated by congress to be implemented by the end of the year.

[dennis in se pa]

I am just waiting for it to be concluded that the lack of the speed control device mentioned above is the reason for this crash. Yes, it could have prevented it, but the person responsible for the speed of the train is the one who is responsible for the crash. I don't know if that was the engineer, but I suspect it was. And since that person is responsible for the deaths of so many people that means manslaughter. And that means jail. And not a short sentence either.

[Rikao4]

good luck with that..
the Op. (lady) that ran her train up the escalator...
she was asleep...
is doing just fine..
and her Union is making sure she doesn't get fired..
no charges filed btw..
single mom working hard blah blah blah..

Rika

[sammyg2]

106 mph? no way, I was totally awake just a minute ago .....

[sammyg2]

BTW i knew a guy who was the eng-in-ear on a train that broke the rules and ran into a slower train and kilt folks years ago. He admitted to everyone he weren't paying attention and didn't see the red lights.

Last I heard he was still drawing full pay (with raises)

Evidently, they can't fire him unless the union gives them authorization.

Karl marx would be soooo proud.

[GH85Carrera]

With rock solid evidence he was going 106 and he knew that section of road, the conductor should be in jail right now and for many more long years.

I am sure the union will just blame Amtrak. And since my tax dollars keep Amtrak in business my tax dollars will be spent to pay off the numerous lawsuits.

Amtrak needs to be cut off form any tax dollars. Make the riders pay the cost of the service. If they can't stay in business then shut down and close. That will happen right after congress balances the budget and achieves lasting peace in the middle east.

[VaSteve]

How come the union would protect the engineer but that cop in SC was fired immediately. I thought police had a union too.

[Rtrorkt]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

With rock solid evidence he was going 106 and he knew that section of road, the conductor should be in jail right now and for many more long years.

I am sure the union will just blame Amtrak. And since my tax dollars keep Amtrak in business my tax dollars will be spent to pay off the numerous lawsuits.

Amtrak needs to be cut off form any tax dollars. Make the riders pay the cost of the service. If they can't stay in business then shut down and close. That will happen right after congress balances the budget and achieves lasting peace in the middle east.

Not enough of your tax dollars go to things like this. The Repubs just refused to fund Amtrak for what they need to upgrade the system. Spending priorities you know. Money for bombs and armies but none for infrastructure, education or healthcare.

[Hugh R]

So its the R's not funding AMTRAK that is to blame, not the Engineer who was going 2X the speed limit? OK, if you want to take that tack.

BTW, read this http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2012-08-02/amtrak-congress-food-beverage-losses/56719770/1

"The company's food and beverage cars have lost $833.8 million over the last decade, including $84.5 million in 2011, according to testimony at a congressional hearing Thursday.

The reason: the difference between Amtrak's costs and what it charges passengers. For example, taking overhead into account, each cheeseburger costs Amtrak $16.15 and each can of soda costs $3.40. But Amtrak charges passengers only $9.50 and $2 for those items."

Hasn't anyone told AMTRAK that that Coke and Pepsi will install vending machines for free and stock them for free and split the profits with the Host? I guess not.

$84.5 million per year out of a $1.5 Billion annual subsidy from Congress is about 5% of their budget goes to subsidize burgers and sodas because they can't figure out how to buy and sell refreshments.

This is how your Federal government spends money.

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Last I heard he was still drawing full pay (with raises)

Evidently, they can't fire him unless the union gives them authorization.

*citation needed

[tcar]

Originally Posted by Rickysa

I just know the name from crosswords

The Acela train averages less than 70 mph for it's trip.

There is about a 30 mile section (out of about 450 miles) that it can reach 150.

Poor tracks, grade crossings, old bridges and tunnels, tracks too close together and tight turn radii are the problem.

Much of the route it shares trackage with regular commuter and freight trains.

Bombardier builds the train; great trainset.

[tcar]

Originally Posted by daepp

Re automation, how about until then you simply add a second human in the cab until a proper solution is found??

Shoot, it took decades for the RR's to force the unions to take the Fireman (from the old steam locomotives) out of the diesel locomotives.

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by tcar

The Acela train averages less than 70 mph for it's trip.

There is about a 30 mile section (out of about 450 miles) that it can reach 150.
...

This is where this incident gets very curious. The train was traveling "above 70 mph", 65 seconds before the derailment which placed it within the 80 mph speed limit for that portion of track. But instead of slowing, the train rapidly increased speed to "above 80 mph" 12 seconds later, "above 90 mph" 13 seconds after that, 100 mph 14seconds later, and, finally, 106 mph before the emergency brakes were applied, reducing the derailment speed to 102 mph.

The finger is clearly pointing at the engineer but, from all reports about him and "who he is," it just doesn't fit his profile. Currently, he cannot remember the time period during which the acceleration occurred due to his medical injuries, but has stated he is willing to speak to the NTSB to assist in the investigation. Time will tell, as will the data recorders. If he had died in the accident and the data was "inconclusive," it would be determined to be "human error" and his legacy would be one of the responsible party. If the data indicates a mechanical or electronic malfunction, he would be exonerated. Since he is alive, there is one more element that can possibly supply evidence as to what actually happened inside that cab.

At this point, I, for one, am willing to keep an open mind as to the cause. Yes, I suspect the engineer is at fault, but something about his past, his record, his recent performance, and his concern for train safety, just doesn't sit well with such a conclusion, at this time. At least for me.

[craigster59]

Who's to say the engineer isn't another nutjob like that German airline pilot.

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by craigster59

Who's to say the engineer isn't another nutjob like that German airline pilot.

Not saying he isn't. Just saying let the evidence/data point the finger and draw the conclusion.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

I'm hoping there's more to this story than "the guy dozed off" He seems like a good enough guy. I've secretly been pulling for him the whole time hoping there was something else at play. Maybe this is grasping at straws but I hope there's something to this:

The Latest on Amtrak crash: Was train hit by an object?

[Tobra]

Yeah, it was hit by an object, a sign reading, "50 MPH maximum," somehow the object hit it going a hundred miles an hour.

If I were in my car, driving double the posted limit and I crashed, killing 8 and injuring 200, I am pretty sure I would be arrested and wait in jail for my trial. Seems like the rules ought to be more stringent for people piloting a locomotive.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Yeah, it was hit by an object, a sign reading, "50 MPH maximum," somehow the object hit it going a hundred miles an hour.

lol (shouldn't be...but am)- I'm still hopin' though. Maybe like when the titanic sank, and when it broke in two, it kind of uprighted for a while and everyone thought is was refloating, but then it really sank..Time will tell.