General Discussion (Trains.com)

Here are a couple of photos taken from WGN radio web site.

Several run away U.P. engines (LAST reports) derailed just South of Union Station early this morning.

The Metra line to Orland Park was tied up. After a long tie up the Metra trains were rerouted.

 As of 07:00 the engines were removed from the derailment scene. Report are saying 4 engines were on the ground. Metra service still moving by long delays.

Question      people have to be at work at certain times. When a major problems occur that require long time delays.

Why can't Metra start the trains earlier?

They could put out special announcements over the NEWS stations.

It's easier to move a planet out of its orbit than to get trains rolling in advance of their scheduled operating times.  In fact, back when TTTO was the rule, every departure time listed in a timetable or train order was the EARLIEST time that train could depart from a named spot.

Consider that operating staff schedule their sleep, wakeup and work arrival times on the expected departure time.  Likewise passengers.  How do you suddenly get all of them to suddenly shift gears to an earlier time with no advance warning?  ESPECIALLY the passengers.  You might get the RR personnel there early - half asleep, bleary-eyed and irritable (wonderful for safety, no?)  What percentage of the passengers would get the word.  And how would the ones who DIDN'T get the word react to being told that the 6:10 had actually departed at 5:45?

That suggested cure would be far worse than the disease.

Chuck

 When I first started work for a living I was on an apprenticeship program. I got to work with many different trades, Especially week-ends.

One week-end we had to refurbish one main isle. A man that worked there long before I graduated grammar school approached the isle. He attempted to cross the safety barriers. After a prolong argument my boss asked me to show the man the alternate route to the main exit.

All the time he fought with me. Even when I forced him out the door to the same stairway to his exit.

He swore up and down I was making a fool of him and getting him lost.

 My point is YES you can not change some people. Even when they are standing up and screaming at you as to why they are now late.

You and hear about on the highways and on mass transportation.

There is a major problem. All over the news.

I will have to get up a little earlier to get someplace on time.