Amtrak Cascades derailment

BoxcabE50 Jul 3, 2017

  1. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Seeing conversation about this on Facebook. Looks to be right at the south end of the bridge, north of Steilacoom, Washington. From what I can gather, so far no injuries reported.
     
  2. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    Yeah, seen it on the news here. The bridge wasn't closed yet, the derails weren't closed, and even the bridge tender was running TOWARDS the train to stop it, and jumped in the water when he realized it was too late. Luckily, no cars in the water and no major injuries!!:eek:
     
  3. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Heard there were some minor injuries?

    Still wondering how this could have happened. Signals should have stopped that train, long before any derail. I have trouble believing they would rely upon the bridge tender to set their signals. Seems like they should be tied to the bridge opening, somehow automatically. And then have a timer once the bridge is closed, to be certain all is set up for rail traffic to pass.
     
  4. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member

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    I agree. Something or someone really screwed up here. Just hope no one operating was on a cell phone at the time.
     
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  5. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    Yeah, you'd think a block signal previous to the bridge signal would have been yellow, or "approach medium", well within two miles of it.

    Hmmmm.......:cautious:
     
  6. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    It does not appear to have been at a high speed.
     
  7. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    No, speed limit for Talgos is only 40mph.
     
  8. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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  9. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    Yup, not good.
    https:youtube/TCq8XflURxA
    A friend of mine at BNSF sent this.
     
  10. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    Yup, not good. Must've been checking out the sun bathers on the shoreline.....
     
  11. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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  12. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    Amtrak Cascades 506 Derailment Scanner Audio July 2, 2017
    :oops:
     
  13. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Kurt- That link does not work. :(
     
  14. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Correct URL:
     
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  15. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    Per the article, "BNSF has installed new-generation positive train-control systems, which use satellite technology to prevent collisions and missed signals. Amtrak is scheduled to install this technology in its locomotives by the end of 2018."

    Something ironic about this, that freight railroads have yielded to the Federal PTC mandate, but government-funded Amtrak, having the most to gain in saving lives, is making little progress.
     
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  16. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    That sort of audio is chilling isn't it? Back in 1987 I heard the train radio audio recorded just after the Conrail/Amtrak crash at Gunpow Interlocking, MD, taking the lives of sixteen people. It's just awful, that breathless and emotional call to the Dispatcher trying to capture the enormity of what had happened.
     
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  17. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    The dispatcher is certainly well controlled, as far as any emotions. Is doing a very good job.

    I wonder if that audio you mentioned is available on the 'Net?
     
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  18. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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    'Ironic' is one way to describe it.

    I personally prefer, 'infuriating'. Our railroads would still be running their own passenger trains if they hadn't gotten caught between a rock and a hard place--namely the ICC and John Erlichmann of Watergate fame. Both the ICC and Erlichmann are dead now, and there has to be a way to reverse the process that created Anthrax. Give the railroads the equipment, and let them run the trains!

    They'd agree to run them just to avoid the aggravation of cleaning up after these government wrecks.
     
  19. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Sounds familiar to the Conrail Paulsboro NJ derailment in part because of a faulty swing bridge locking system.

     
  20. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    I've looked for it without success. I might have a very short portion of it on an audio tape somewhere.
     

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