Who would have thought!!!
http://www.kptv.com/news/24595674/detail.html
I wonder what caused the rollover. Somehow I don't believe it was excessive speed. Not living in the area, I have no first-hand knowledge, but rain-softened roadbed would be my first suspicion.
How many garden railways have suffered washouts and 'soft roadbed' problems after significant rain events?
Chuck
According to witnesses, it was excessive speed. It's believed that the brakes on the locomotive failed, and the track at that point is going downgrade into the curve. My understanding is that the engineer was trying everything he could do to get the train to slow down, including digging his heels into the ground and trying to hold the loco back. Once the loco went on its side on the curve, physics took over.
Fortunately, none of the injuries were life-threatening, though as of 10pm Denver time, there were still three victims in the hospital.
Later,
K
Interesting that you posted about excessive speed, that was my first impression whenever I saw the pictures on the news. No damage to the track, cars flung quite a ways from the track, engine on its side... it just looked like a classic example of going too fast around a curve. My sympathies for the injured people and for Tiny Town, also. I was just there the week before last, it is a nice attraction and a neat train ride.
- James
Wow. Was the loco a live steam engine?
Looking at their website this morning, it looked like.. and the train is a lot bigger than the news article photos made it look.
The 44 year old engineer has openly admitted it was his fault. He hit the go instead of stop levers but it was to late. I kinda feel sorry for the guy.
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