So I just heard on the news that our Train Derailed in Kansas, but luckily we weren't on it. We are scheduled to be on that train in about 3 weeks and I sure hope they get that track fixed in time. http://abcnews.go.com/US/amtrak-train-la-chicago-derails-128-passengers-onboard/story?id=37625905
I've heard a few mentions of this on radio. One report aired stated the train was doing 75 mph. This one says "about 60mph". I believe the author of this story needs to be sent back to grade school. Or be retrained on spell check. She wrote "... and pulled the emergency break." Break?" Her prolly go kollej, be smartt. Get deegree.
One article I've seen mentions a report that the engineer saw a "bend" in the track, so perhaps some part out of gauge somehow?
I'm very curious to know how the engineer saw that. I would think there had to be something drastic to be able to see and I wounder how far he was away when he hit the brakes.
I am wondering what they meant by saying an "unreported vehicle crash". Did this derailment start near a road grade crossing?
Well there have been quite a few reports of cars and trucks getting caught on the tracks in the last couple of years. It could have been someone getting caught and damaging the track while trying to get unstuck.
I'm not sure when my train goes through that area next month, but I sure hope it's not when I'm sleeping
Johnny, Seems odd that a rail kink would be blamed. I've been to enough of these accident scenes to know, it isn't over until the investigators finish putting it back together. Even then we may never know the real cause of the accident. By then the media won't be interested in printing or publicizing the truth. Wait and see!
In my area, Amtrak's Silver Star hit a vehicle that was steered down the tracks a short distance. Fortunately the train stayed on the rail, but the vehicle driver was killed. Was it suicide, drunkenness, senility or something else? We'll never know. The media never returned for a follow-up story.
Probably could not figure out a way to make it seem sensational enough, so moved on to something else.
I doubt it was a rail kink. Not warm enough yet and everything west of Dodge City is still jointed rail so there is plenty of room for expansion.
I’m no expert by any means, but it just strikes me funny that the engineer saw a rail kink especially in the middle of the night. I’m curious when the last train passed through before the Southwest Chief came along. Could the engineer have simply slammed on the brakes because he thought he saw something causing the derailment?
Looks like a semi truck struck and moved the rail. This is per the NTSB. http://m.kmbc.com/news/ntsb-feed-truck-hit-shifted-tracks-before-amtrak-derailment/38531252
Amtrak has already put one trucking company out of business with a lawsuit. They had a driver hit a train in 2011. They will most likely along with BNSF take this one out as well.
