The Chicago derailment

[eolafan]

Bottom line on the RI District deal is that some people got banged up (nobody killed, thank God), a lot of equipment messed up ($5,000,000 plus), a lot of track ripped up, schedules really messed up for two days plus, and a rookie engineer's career and life permanently ruined (better call McDonalds and see if they need a burger flipper, guy!)

[kwboehm]

So it was officially determined that the engineer missed the signal, and fault was with the engineer? I thought earlier in the thread that they were looking at the dispatcher pretty hard as well.
Anyone hear anything on the Milwaukee District derailment yet? So far all I've heard was no injuries, but messed up schedules. Any details as to cause yet?

[wabash1]

It dont matter the engineer will get his job back it might take 6 months but he will be back.

[eolafan]

OK, wanna bet? Let's make a gentlemens bet. If you see anything that says he gets his job back, let us know the source and I will publicly admit I was wrong. I really don't believe the public will stand for this guy getting his job back as an engineer...track gang member perhaps....but not an engineer. Jim

QUOTE: Originally posted by wabash1

It dont matter the engineer will get his job back it might take 6 months but he will be back.

[Anonymous]

One of the Locomotives was a brand-new Motive Power Inc. (MPI) MP36PH-3S, just delivered a few months ago. The MP36s are really nice, new, powerful (3600HP)locomotives. It is really a shame for this to happen to one. This is the same type of locomotive delivered to CalTrain for their "Baby Bullet" service.

[kenneo]

You will never hear if the hogger gets his job back. You will hear, however, if he does not. If management really tries to make an example of him, the union will shut the place down until he is rehired.

Even though in a mess like this the only logical person at fault is the hogger, management is required by the NTSB to make certain tests and inspections, one of which is proper operation of the signal system and the dispatchers tape which, among other things, shows when signals were set, sometimes even with what indication was showing in the field; switches alaigned (normal or reverse); time a train enters a controlled track circuit and the time it exits. If it changes tracks, that would be shown also. Having been through the experience, even before the hogger is even thought of, the dispatcher understands what a steak feels like on a braisier.

I have seen the following happen --- and it should happen here if applicable, but if the train would get something other than a high green (ie., some sort of restricting signal) departing his previous station (Chicago) to crossover at (54th was it?) and what he did get was a high green (no restrictions), then that dispatcher WILL get 90 days.

You do not change a routing in front of a train within three blocks because it can cause just this sort of thing. The hogger, however, IS REQUIRED to keep the train UNDER CONTROL AT ALL TIMES. Period. So, it really doesn't matter if something else is the real cause, the hogger is looking at 90-365 days; depending on when the switch was turned and the signals set, the dispatcher is looking at 30-90 days. Automatically.

And don't forget that the FEDS have an interest in this. The FRA can mandate (and probably will in this case) what any punishments will be.

[eolafan]

God bless the unions, NOT! (Wow, I can hardly wait for the backlash on that one).

[kwboehm]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BahnMan1

One of the Locomotives was a brand-new Motive Power Inc. (MPI) MP36PH-3S, just delivered a few months ago. The MP36s are really nice, new, powerful (3600HP)locomotives. It is really a shame for this to happen to one. This is the same type of locomotive delivered to CalTrain for their "Baby Bullet" service.

I don't know about this...I personally think the new units are uglier than sin...or maybe it's just hard feelings because they're being brought in to replace the F40C's

[eolafan]

Personally I like anything new and different and the MP36PH-3S units certainly qualify as different to me. They have a sound vaguely remminiscent of an E9 or perhaps it is an SD45, I can't tell for sure but it sure sounds good to me, and the bright shining color scheme is really nice to me as well. Jim

QUOTE: Originally posted by kwboehm

QUOTE: Originally posted by BahnMan1

One of the Locomotives was a brand-new Motive Power Inc. (MPI) MP36PH-3S, just delivered a few months ago. The MP36s are really nice, new, powerful (3600HP)locomotives. It is really a shame for this to happen to one. This is the same type of locomotive delivered to CalTrain for their "Baby Bullet" service.

I don't know about this...I personally think the new units are uglier than sin...or maybe it's just hard feelings because they're being brought in to replace the F40C's

[wabash1]

eolafan so you think that if a man makes a mistake he should lose lose his job for ever. that would be like you having a fender bender and losing your drivers lic for life. dont make any sense. When a traffic accident happens the person at fault gets a ticket if it happens to be a big accedent ( 10 cars or more) it is worse more people get tickets. but everyone goes on and not thinking of someone getting fired or losing there lic or job.but let a plane fall out of the sky or a train derail and it might be 10% operator fault and 90% company fault they want to hang the operator. Nobody goes to work saying i am going to hurt myself or hurt others today cause i am mad at the company or I dont want to work so ill have a wreck and make a short day of it. this is why they call them accidents the man will get his job back and you will never hear when if he even gets any time off. With the fra investigating I believe he will get some time but the company will get a fine also. this you wont hear about either.

[eolafan]

Well Wahash1 you really need to read these posts more closely. I never said I thought he SHOULD lose his job permanently (although as a matter of fact I do...provided he is at fault...and not that he should not get another job, just not as an engineer), but what I said is that he WILL lose his job. Furthermore, at the company I work for, if I were the cause of $5 million plus in damage, you better believe I would be fired for good, and so would you (likely). This was no fender bender my friend, and it was just good luck that nobody got killed this time.

QUOTE: Originally posted by wabash1

eolafan so you think that if a man makes a mistake he should lose lose his job for ever. that would be like you having a fender bender and losing your drivers lic for life. dont make any sense. When a traffic accident happens the person at fault gets a ticket if it happens to be a big accedent ( 10 cars or more) it is worse more people get tickets. but everyone goes on and not thinking of someone getting fired or losing there lic or job.but let a plane fall out of the sky or a train derail and it might be 10% operator fault and 90% company fault they want to hang the operator. Nobody goes to work saying i am going to hurt myself or hurt others today cause i am mad at the company or I dont want to work so ill have a wreck and make a short day of it. this is why they call them accidents the man will get his job back and you will never hear when if he even gets any time off. With the fra investigating I believe he will get some time but the company will get a fine also. this you wont hear about either.