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Conductor Fatigue Blamed In Massive Model Train Crash

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Posted by kasskaboose on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 12:48 PM

nycmodel

 I guess railroads just aren't that high up the public's realm of knowledge.

While perhaps true, trains are certainly VERY high in the public's interest when an accident happens; otherwise, most just take this multi-billion dollar industry for granted.

 

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Posted by joe323 on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 11:39 AM

nycmodel

I don't understand what the confusion is. For some reason the various NYC TV stations have often referred to the operator of a train as the "conductor". Seeing that we have at least a 150 year history in this country with the operator of the train being referred to as the "engineer", I just don't get the ignorance. I guess railroads just aren't that high up the public's realm of knowledge.

 

Actually train drivers on the NYC subway are called motormen lol

Joe Staten Island West 

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Posted by ricktrains4824 on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 11:00 AM

For shame, hitting a whole 3 MPH! This conductor needs jailed for his/her recklessness. And then trying to prevent an issue by "grabbing the caboose", gee whiz, what were they thinking?!?

Ricky W.

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Posted by BroadwayLion on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 9:20 AM

Trains of LION are automatic. No engineers no conductors.

We never make miss steaks!

ROAR

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Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

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Posted by BRAKIE on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 8:36 AM

charlie9

Let us do it railroad style and ignore the obvious.  Once blame is affixed, the problem will be considered solved.

Charlie

 

Then the FRA will set new rules to ensure the crew is blame when it happens again.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by OT Dean on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 2:48 AM

nycmodel
Seeing that we have at least a 150 year history in this country with the operator of the train being referred to as the "engineer", I just don't get the ignorance.

Yeah, I don't understand the ignorance, either--or maybe I'm just an old curmudgeon these days...   I don't understand the tendency--maybe just laziness--of people shortening things that don't need to be shortened.  My pet peeve is "railroad" is now generally shortened to just "rail" when referring to things. "Railroad cars" have become "railcars," even among the Bretheren.  We had some derailments and crossing accidents up here in the Hairy Wilds of Minnesota, and news people told us we had some "railcars come off the track" and trouble at "rail crossings"...

When i becaame educated in the Way of the Iron Trail, a "railcar" was a self-powered car, usually a passenger coach like an RDC car, Skunk, Doodlebug, Galloping Goose, or some such.  And a week or so ago i heard that old bugaboo, a "crossover"--meaning a crossing.

But the one that really bugs me is the tendency to refer to anything on rails as a "TRAIN."  I wouldn't mind if it were just the  general public, but a few months ago I looked up Disney's amusement park railroads on YouTube and even the engineer who gives the tour of the railroad facilities refers to steam locomotives and individual cars as "trains!"

Oh, and that nonsense of the engineer steering the train into something and causing the wreck, isn't that far from people who should know better: the railroad publicity departments--even back "in the day!"  I have a promotional film from the '50s where the narrator tells us that "the engineer steers the train onto the siding..."  I had a coughing fit and had to rewind the DVD to make certain I'd actually heard that gem!

Maybe we're just too touchy...

Deano

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Posted by dinwitty on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 8:48 PM
I'm calling the lawyers, Dewey, Cheatem and Howe right now...
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Posted by riogrande5761 on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 8:18 PM

Hm... link stated it happened in Bloomington Indiana - home of Indiana University - go big red.  Thats my alma mater twice over.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 6:52 PM

Was anyone from Broake & Howe involved?

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

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Posted by dknelson on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 5:33 PM

nycmodel

I don't understand what the confusion is. For some reason the various NYC TV stations have often referred to the operator of a train as the "conductor". Seeing that we have at least a 150 year history in this country with the operator of the train being referred to as the "engineer", I just don't get the ignorance. I guess railroads just aren't that high up the public's realm of knowledge.

 
And I recall an issue ( I should have clipped the article) of the newspaper that boasts of All the News That's Fit to Print referring to an engineer "steering" the train into a collision.  Probably didn't use his turn signals either.  But they did say "engineer" if memory serves.
 
Dave Nelson
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Posted by charlie9 on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 4:05 PM

Let us do it railroad style and ignore the obvious.  Once blame is affixed, the problem will be considered solved.

Charlie

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Posted by BRAKIE on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 1:41 PM

fieryturbo
 
BRAKIE

In all seriousness crew fatigue is no joking matter.

 

 

 
It's the Onion.  Seriousness is not appropriate.
 

Be that as it may I have had boots on the ground and know all to well 5 hours of sleep between weeks of 12 hour days is far from a joking matter.

When your body shouts out for rest and then you mark off for 24 hours of rest but, after spending some time with the wife and kids you may end up with 12 hours of sleep if your lucky.

 

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by nycmodel on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 12:33 PM

I don't understand what the confusion is. For some reason the various NYC TV stations have often referred to the operator of a train as the "conductor". Seeing that we have at least a 150 year history in this country with the operator of the train being referred to as the "engineer", I just don't get the ignorance. I guess railroads just aren't that high up the public's realm of knowledge.

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Posted by Da Stumer on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 11:55 AM

I like the heading picture. Lionel O, european ho, all poorly photoshopped onto American ho track. Love it.

-Peter. Mantua collector, 3D printing enthusiast, Korail modeler.

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Posted by fieryturbo on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 11:52 AM

BRAKIE

In all seriousness crew fatigue is no joking matter.

 
It's the Onion.  Seriousness is not appropriate.

Julian

Modeling Pre-WP merger UP (1974-81)

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Posted by mlehman on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 11:51 AM

BRAKIE
In all seriousness crew fatigue is no joking matter.

Granted.

I will observe that with me, it's usually a matter of insomnia...

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

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Posted by BRAKIE on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 11:41 AM

There are questions that must be asked.. Why was the conductor operating the train? Where was the engineer? How did this wreck happen on straight track?

In all seriousness crew fatigue is no joking matter.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by charlie9 on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 11:20 AM

Arrange to appear in the office of the Division Superintendent at 9:00 AM, Wednesday, January 6th. for a formal investigation to determine the facts and your responsibility, if any, regarding this incident.  You may bring witnesses and/or representatives from your collective bargaining organization so long as their appearance does not cause additional expense to the company.

IMA BIGSHOT Gen. Mgr.

been there, done that.  Let us hold a fair and impartial hearing, then fire the whole crew.

Charlie

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Conductor Fatigue Blamed In Massive Model Train Crash
Posted by KisNap on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 10:40 AM

Found this hilarious article and had to share it.

 Conductor Fatigue Blamed In Massive Model Train Crash

 

The N scale section of my website is now uploaded with a lot of various things.  Check it out: www.CarlettaTrains.com

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