Railroad case 2

[Anonymous]

I have heard rumors that the Bombardier ALSTOM consortium electric units (AMTRAK Acela unit) have no protection from the Angle **** accedentaly opening. The GG1 wreck in DC in the 50s, according to an interview with the fireman on that run, was caused by the angle **** opening, thus having the brake pads wear down by the time they would need them. What truth is in this? Should we expect this to happen in the future of the Acela? Who knows?

[jchnhtfd]

That poor GG-1! How to get and stay famous! It was an angle **** which was closed en-route, because it interfered with a buffer on a New Haven RR coach under certain conditions (there is a report on the accident available in DOT Special Collections -- I don't have the web address handy, sorry!).

I'd be surprised if they messed up that way again.

An open angle **** is what you want in a train line... see some of the comments on air brakes.

[dehusman]

The turned (closed, not opened) angle **** prevented the brakes from setting on the rear of the train, thus the train had insufficient braking power remaining on the head end to stop the train.

Of all the potential "what-if" disasters that could befall a passenger train, I would put that pretty low on the list.

Dave H.