A collision/derailment occurred in Brookings, SD, around 0300 26th August on the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern. The conductor lost his life and the engineer has had his left arm amputated and suffered lower leg and foot injuries. A 20-year old Brookings resident has been arrested and questioned over the 'prank' by state and federal agencies. Full story - http://www.argusleader.com/ Photos - http://my.ispchannel.com/~narv/DME.html (slow loading on standard modems due to page size) Condolences to the families of the crew. Gary Rose Signal Maintainer Rail Services Australia [This message has been edited by Gats (edited 31 August 2000).]
It is unbelievable that anyone could do such a thing as a 'prank' and not realise how serious would be the result. I did wait for all the pictures to load, and by the look of the locomotive, it is amazing that the engineer survived. I feel very sorry for the families of the railroaders. Through no fault of their own, the conductor lost his life and the engineer was seriously injured. The culprit should be severely dealt with. Alan
This is a terrible tragedy and I really feel for the children and other relatives of the deceased conductor. It is unbelievable that any imbecile would commit an act such as this; the punishment should fit the gravity of the act. I do not, however, support capital punishment, but I do believe that a person committing an act such as this is actually very sick and should probably be lobotomised or in some way rendered medically incapable of forming and carrying out any similar intention in the future; in fact, removing this person judicially from active participation in human life but not actually ending their life. Ben
It is a very sad, sad thing indeed. If this so called "prankster" is found guilty, or who ever, they should be confined for the rest of their days. There needs to be a return to accountability in this country. [This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 01 September 2000).]
It's amasing what idiots we have out there! The last time I was railfanning on Edlestine Hill, IL. I saw some kids playing on the tracks and I knew a train was coming! We jumped into our veihical to warn them to get off the tracks! When we got to them, we found their Father, and a friend of his, ALSO ON THE TRACKS! Here comes the train and he starts putting STACKS of coins on the track! I told him that it was bad for the trains wheels and the coins could shoot out from under the train like flat bullets and could seriously hurt or kill someone. He just laughed at me and continued to put the coins on the track, while the train is Blowing it's horn for the crossing he was standing on. What a DUMBASS! The next time I see this kind of activity, I'm calling the BOBBIES! ------------------ BNSF RAILFAN-TO-THE-MAX! Brent Tidaback, Member #234 and a N-Scaler to boot! [This message has been edited by Maxwell Plant (edited 01 September 2000).]
Maybe, when we find these idiots, quietly photograph them in the act and publish the pictures somewhere. Faces blocked out, of course. The uncensored version could be made available to law enforcement agencies if requested. ------------------ Peirce Behrendt Southbury, CT peirce@ibm.net
I was so wizzed off, that didn't come to mind until I had already moved to a new location. But next time, it will be a different story, and I WON'T black out any faces! ------------------ BNSF RAILFAN-TO-THE-MAX! Brent Tidaback, Member #234 and a N-Scaler to boot!
and people wonder why railroaders are always stressed out. this is just one thing we worry about out there! ------------------ fly with route of the eagles.rock n roll all night and railroad everyday!
From what I have seen and heard of the way Americans behave at grade crossings, I think that if I were an engineer, every time I blew a long, long, short, long for a crossing, I would also be wondering if someone was about to do something stupid! I have every admiration for you guys. ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.ac-models.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery
Alan do forget about blowing the horn, all the times I was trainspotting in the US at grade crossings, some engineers were blowing the horn like madmen!! but cars were still crossing the line!!!! All because those drivers would have to wait a couple of minutes for a long slow train. I can't imagine what a difference couple of minutes can make in a life time. Anyway I also remembering driving around and arriving at a crossing, the flashing lights just went on and I immediately stopped (of course) to watch the train. You must have heard all the tooting sounds of the cars coming behind me!!!! A lot of them passed me and went through the red lights, drivers making all sorts of funny gestures as I was crazy ???!! Was I??? ------------------ Paul Van Herwegen Rappannahock Terminal Railway
Well reading the article the suggestion is the switch was changed into the siding? Surely the turnout cannot be switched unless a lock or frame is operated? Normal safeworking practice would never permit a mainline turnout to me manually operated without some form of protection ------------------ Paul Cassar-# Member number 50 ICQ 61198217 http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000 [This message has been edited by Colonel (edited 03 September 2000).]
Paul, the manual throw into the siding was protected by lock, similar idea to our SL. The lock had been smashed off and the switch moved to the siding and a dark plastic garbage bag placed over the target obscuring the reflectors. In all, a willful act. Gary.
we worry about people doing stupid things all the time. after a while you just get used to seeing it and when you do hit one of them it doesnt bother you so much anymore unless there are kids involved. if i can get them i will get pics of a tow truck that i hit and the driver argued with me for over an hour telling us we couldve stopped. yeah we were running 40 and came around a curve and hes stopped on the crossing picking up a car. the ones that bother me are the ones that you have to look down at the ground to see if you got em and there is a kid in a carseat looking you in the eyes. the thing with the dme derailment is the bad thing about "dark territory" or track warrant territory. there are no signals to warn you of things like this. ------------------ fly with route of the eagles.rock n roll all night and railroad everyday!
Capital punishment is too good for the animal that dreamed up this "prank". I hope he sees pictures of what he's done every day for the rest of his life and remembers that crew, the survivors of his actions surely will. What a disaster.
now some people might know why us railroaders yell at railfans.we don't ever know what someone is doing next to and sometimes on the tracks.it is always funny to get a trainee on the engine and see their face when stupid people do stupid things.i have only hit 1 car at 36mph and thought the driver was dead.if you've never been in the position you don't know what it feels like.i thought at first that i just killed someone's dad or husband.then i thought about it and came up with this"stupid people die everyday sometimes they need some help".luckly the guy only had a broke pelvis,arms and legs and after 346 stitches he was back to normal.stupid is as stupid does. ------------------ ed pinkley home of the pinkley taurus
this is only my opinion but this is why we shouldn't get rid of the death penalty in this country. put them on an engine and let them slam into a train at 50 . thats what they deserve not a slap on the wrist like they will get. ------------------ fly with route of the eagles.rock n roll all night and railroad everyday!
I read in one of the reports of the DM&E 'prank' that the death penalty IS an option in this case. One can only hope!! If there is anyone on this forum who can get the name and address for the court in this jurisdiction please post it so all of the outrage I and others here feel can be communicated to them via a letter writing campaign. This guy deserves to be made an example of the harshest punishment available for such a moronic act! I pray for my brother railroaders and their families involved and for all of us that have to endure this sort of thing while just doing our jobs.
It is so frustrating as a railway employee to see such moronic behaviour. It happens all over the world and is a sorry part of human nature. If i had a dollar for every time someone placed obstructions on the track.
IN MEMORY OF CONDUCTOR BRAD DAVIS. Picture by David Voeltz. Paul ------------------ Paul Van Herwegen Rappannahock Terminal Railway [This message has been edited by Rappannahock Terminal (edited 17 September 2000).]
