Runaway - First hand account - received by e-mail - posting by request

Did I do something wrong? I had not seen this thread before, and it was quite an interesting read.

 

I couldn't agree with you more. One would think that model railroaders and railfans would also agree.

 

GULP

Guess I opened a can of worms.
Sorry about that guys.
I thought the events played out that some gutsy rr'ers put it on the line to stop what could have been a messy, expensive, very dangerous, and potentially deadly wreck.

RRs always seem to get portrayed by the media in a bad light based on old stereotypes. This could have shown that RRs are people that have lives, stressful jobs, and face difficults choices but do so with courage.

 

Let's see how to put this. Been there done that. It is not any fun trying to explain how your train got away.
Adam

 

Tell me about it...

Charlie, I guess we both have the same wish then.

BTW, I'm not sure where anyone got the idea that there was an objection to the original topic but that wasn't the case here. It was simply a counterpoint to an opinion presented in the ensuing discussions.

I found the topic interesting back then and it still holds as a very well written account of the incident. :thumbs_up:

 

Hi all,

I was the guy in question who wrote that. The audio was so bad that I could not do anything with it and also there were legal aspects that I had to consider. The runaway was certainly an experience to say the least. As per it being "fun", it was not. There was a potential for disaster that may have resulted in injury or loss of life. The gravity of the situation was not lost on anyone who was along the rails that day. I was contacted repeatedly by news media afterwards, but only spoke briefly with a friend at the Toledo Blade. I had an excellent relationship with CSX at the time and did not want to compromise it. Looking back, I made the right decision. I am glad you all still enjoy that write up, even though there are a few mistakes in it. Nothing significant, just some place names. That whole 8888 Runaway has given me a bit of noteriety in railfan and railroader circles ("you're the runaway guy!"). It was simply a case of a former railroader and current railfan who was on the scene when the muck went down. - Erik Landrum, K8DTI, Cincinnati, Ohio

 

THANKS for sharing this with us

:thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up:
​

 

Well, I didn't check the date as I read this. Never saw it the first time through either. Reading it got my blood flowing. Talk about blow by blow coverage. Even this far after it happened and I was just getting all excioted reading the post. Well done and well worth reviving

 

if James Bnd was on the CSX, they would have stopped that train by dropping him onto the walkway from a helicoptor.

If that train was DCC, we'd just stop it from the tower. Radio backup...

If it was running windows, it would be sitting in the yard, throttle wide open and every light on, but otherwise not moving a single inch...

 

Now there is a member with spare time, but I liked it good one.:angel: