wabash1 Justin Ive been lucky or blessed in that in my time with the railroad ive only killed 4 people. ive hit several cars and even 18 wheelers ( and they tried blaming the railroad to) yes they would rather replace the gate and then charge you for it. the insurance company would pay for it. and this could be avoided with common sense. making sure the road was clear before crossing would be one way. shoving them out of the way would be another. And if I have offended anyone with my bold ways and statements sorry, I wont talk about wrecks or the deaths or what they looked like but i can say what they should have done.
Justin Ive been lucky or blessed in that in my time with the railroad ive only killed 4 people. ive hit several cars and even 18 wheelers ( and they tried blaming the railroad to) yes they would rather replace the gate and then charge you for it. the insurance company would pay for it. and this could be avoided with common sense. making sure the road was clear before crossing would be one way. shoving them out of the way would be another. And if I have offended anyone with my bold ways and statements sorry, I wont talk about wrecks or the deaths or what they looked like but i can say what they should have done.
Don't apologize for being blunt. It's good to hear the plain truth. Not only do careless crossings kill or badly injure the motorist or trespasser, they can traumatize the engineer.
Can somebody confirm or deny that, relative to population, Canadian trains kill far fewer people than here in the US? They have lots of grade crossings, too. We celebrate the assertive, risk-taking American spirit but this seems to be a case where people will just have to rein in. People aren't free to booze it up and then drive. Thousands of deaths per year by trains striking people or their vehicles just isn't acceptable, and there needs to be a national discussion of it. (And while railroad companies should be part of the dialog, they seem to be doing more than anyone else to address the problem, so I don't expect a huge extra effort from them.)
People still drink and drive but there is less of it than 30 years ago, and it isn't considered "cute" anymore. We've evolved a culture where people think it's fine to drive heedlessly or cross active tracks on foot (very prevalent here in Metra-land) if it will save them a few seconds to "Stop [or Slow], Look and Listen," to a few minutes if they don't race the train. This should not be glorified as hurry-means-purpose or "going for it all." I am preaching to the choir here but there should be a lot more said about this, not only from the RR's and Operation Lifesaver but from the highway departments and town and city governments. There should be severe fines for people who flirt with death IMHO. I wish there would be word given from President Obama on down that this has got to stop -- it won't halt foolish driving completely, but I've a hunch it would it cut down somewhat. -- a.s.
wabash1 Texas Zepher wabash12) Husband behind you and your car is stalled he knows this what should he do. Ans) get behind your car with his and push it out of the way this will work everytime...No it doesn't. You should check out the accident that was in Castle Rock Colorado a few years ago. In this case it was a boy friend behind who tried to push the girl friends car across the track and out of the way. Result was that the car was hit much worse than it would have been had he done nothing. http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/4604314/detail.html bubbajustinbut for the love of god! if the car stalled why didn't the husband just shover her out of the freekin way!Easier said than done. See above. The driver of the car still has to have the where-withall to put their car in neutral, take off the brake, etc. I believe I am right and can prove it. look at my statement. car stalled key word is stalled ( as originally reported) car stalled not stuck not hung up stalled as not running yea think it means that it can roll and a car behind it can push it off with out major damage. I dont care about some case where somebody broke a finger nail opening a door and getting hit by the train, even if the car was in park it can be shoved out of the way. and yes i have dont that also, most people aint going to scuff a bumper to help
Texas Zepher wabash12) Husband behind you and your car is stalled he knows this what should he do. Ans) get behind your car with his and push it out of the way this will work everytime...No it doesn't. You should check out the accident that was in Castle Rock Colorado a few years ago. In this case it was a boy friend behind who tried to push the girl friends car across the track and out of the way. Result was that the car was hit much worse than it would have been had he done nothing. http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/4604314/detail.html bubbajustinbut for the love of god! if the car stalled why didn't the husband just shover her out of the freekin way!Easier said than done. See above. The driver of the car still has to have the where-withall to put their car in neutral, take off the brake, etc.
wabash12) Husband behind you and your car is stalled he knows this what should he do. Ans) get behind your car with his and push it out of the way this will work everytime...
Ans) get behind your car with his and push it out of the way this will work everytime...
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/4604314/detail.html
bubbajustinbut for the love of god! if the car stalled why didn't the husband just shover her out of the freekin way!
I believe I am right and can prove it. look at my statement. car stalled key word is stalled ( as originally reported) car stalled not stuck not hung up stalled as not running yea think it means that it can roll and a car behind it can push it off with out major damage. I dont care about some case where somebody broke a finger nail opening a door and getting hit by the train, even if the car was in park it can be shoved out of the way. and yes i have dont that also, most people aint going to scuff a bumper to help
Also wabash1,
I'm sure the railroad, whatever one it was in this case CN maby?. would mutch rather have to replace a crossing gate than kill someone right?
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chatanuga zardoz The woman driving the minivan, Monica Ensley-Partenfelder, got caught on the tracks with cars behind and ahead of her as the gates came down and alarms sounded. Ensley-Partenfelder, 40, of West Allis, tried to get out of the train's way, but the van's tire got lodged in a portion of the tracks, said Assistant Chief Gus Moulas, of the Elm Grove police department. Sounds almost like she found herself boxed in and tried making a U-turn to get off the tracks. There is a clip from the show Rescue 911 that I found a while back on YouTube where a woman's car stalled on a crossing in South Carolina(?). She got out to ask the police officer behind her for help, and the crossing signals came on. She got back in the car, and the officer tried to get her to abandon the car only to discover that she was trying to get her son out of the car seat. The officer then got in front of the car, managing to get it off the tracks just before the train went past. He said that when the train went past, he could feel it brushing the back of his uniform. I'll post a link when I get home if I can find it. Kevin
zardoz The woman driving the minivan, Monica Ensley-Partenfelder, got caught on the tracks with cars behind and ahead of her as the gates came down and alarms sounded. Ensley-Partenfelder, 40, of West Allis, tried to get out of the train's way, but the van's tire got lodged in a portion of the tracks, said Assistant Chief Gus Moulas, of the Elm Grove police department.
The woman driving the minivan, Monica Ensley-Partenfelder, got caught on the tracks with cars behind and ahead of her as the gates came down and alarms sounded. Ensley-Partenfelder, 40, of West Allis, tried to get out of the train's way, but the van's tire got lodged in a portion of the tracks, said Assistant Chief Gus Moulas, of the Elm Grove police department.
Sounds almost like she found herself boxed in and tried making a U-turn to get off the tracks.
There is a clip from the show Rescue 911 that I found a while back on YouTube where a woman's car stalled on a crossing in South Carolina(?). She got out to ask the police officer behind her for help, and the crossing signals came on. She got back in the car, and the officer tried to get her to abandon the car only to discover that she was trying to get her son out of the car seat. The officer then got in front of the car, managing to get it off the tracks just before the train went past. He said that when the train went past, he could feel it brushing the back of his uniform.
I'll post a link when I get home if I can find it.
Kevin
Found the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnmMvr8qBSI
Found another clip from an episode where a Michigan state trooper jumped on a couple runaway boxcars to stop them after they hit a car at a crossing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqlc7cAoDxA
And another clip where a conductor in New Jersey saves two kids playing on the tracks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC9c1RYzWjs
And a clip where a bystander saves a woman from her car just before it is hit by a train: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irwTCQGM410
The clip with the kids on the tracks gives me chills every time I've watched it. I can't imagine being that engineer or conductor and going through that.
http://chatanuga.org/RailPage.html
http://chatanuga.org/WLMR.html
I am glad the child was uninjured. It should be interesting to see what they make of this one, for now its good everyone survived.
al-in-chgo zardoz Oh, man, the newspaper's headline is right; we're never going to hear the end of this! Just how does one get a passenger vehicle's tire stuck "in a portion of the tracks"? How did one of the tires become aligned with (parallel to?) the rail, at or near a ninety-degree angle to the roadway? Was there a big enough portion or gap between the rail and whatever else constituted a paved crossing? Surely it would be a paved crossing if it had signal bells and gates?
zardoz
Oh, man, the newspaper's headline is right; we're never going to hear the end of this!
Just how does one get a passenger vehicle's tire stuck "in a portion of the tracks"? How did one of the tires become aligned with (parallel to?) the rail, at or near a ninety-degree angle to the roadway? Was there a big enough portion or gap between the rail and whatever else constituted a paved crossing? Surely it would be a paved crossing if it had signal bells and gates?
Maby she was trying to hi-rail her truck mini van?
Where's GraniteRailroader's avatar when we need it... but for the love of god! if the car stalled why didn't the husband just shover her out of the freekin way! But then I got to thinking, Wait she got caut in traffic. he would have caused a pile up. So why not hurry up and get the kids out beore the train comes? maby I'm missing some thing here. it sounds lie the lady tried to get her car re-started before getting the kids out.
zardoz http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WI_TRAIN_ACCIDENT_WIOL-?SITE=WIKEN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=ap_content_popup.html Wis. train crash investigation could take months By CARRIE ANTLFINGER Associated Press Writer MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Police said Tuesday it could take months to finish investigating a freight train and minivan crash that injured an Elm Grove police officer and another man. A 94-car train slammed into a minivan stuck on railroad tracks Monday morning in suburban Milwaukee, where people were waiting for a Memorial Day parade to begin. The woman driving the minivan, Monica Ensley-Partenfelder, got caught on the tracks with cars behind and ahead of her as the gates came down and alarms sounded. Ensley-Partenfelder, 40, of West Allis, tried to get out of the train's way, but the van's tire got lodged in a portion of the tracks, said Assistant Chief Gus Moulas, of the Elm Grove police department. Her 47-year-old husband, Scott Partenfelder, who was in a nearby car, ran to help as did Elm Grove police officer John Krahn. Krahn, 41, got the woman out, and he and the husband attempted to get the Partenfelders' 2-year-old son out of his child seat in the back, Moulas said. But the train hit the van as Krahn was trying to manipulate controls to unlock the doors, Moulas said. The train pushed the van into the men, but the child was not injured. Krahn and Scott Partenfelder were taken to a local hospital. A Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital spokeswoman said Partenfelder was still in critical condition late Tuesday evening. His mother-in-law, Pam West, said he was expected to recover. Krahn, a 17-year police veteran, remained in satisfactory condition late Tuesday. Moulas said the department was working with the Wisconsin State Patrol, which has a technical reconstruction unit. He said they hope to gather more details to prevent similar events from happening. When asked about citations or tickets, Moulas said it was "premature to say it's a possibility at this point in time." Neither of the two federal groups that investigate major train accidents, the National Safety Transportation Board or Federal Railroad Administration, was involved. Moulas said it could take up to two months to finish investigating. Canadian Pacific spokesman Mike LoVecchio said the company was conducting an internal investigation, which includes studying the black box that records the train's speed. LoVecchio didn't know the speed but said the limit in the area was 50 mph. Trains generally travel below that speed, he said. The warning lights, alarm and gates generally sound when a train is nearby, LoVecchio said. He wouldn't speculate how close this train was to the crossing when the alarm sounded, saying it depended on the train's exact speed. An automated trigger system generally gives little warning, maybe about 30 seconds, he said. Local officials generally don't want trains sounding the horn in the area but earlier in the month they contacted Canadian Pacific to request the train blow its horns because of the holiday traffic, and the crew complied, LoVecchio said.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WI_TRAIN_ACCIDENT_WIOL-?SITE=WIKEN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=ap_content_popup.html
Wis. train crash investigation could take months
By CARRIE ANTLFINGER Associated Press Writer
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Police said Tuesday it could take months to finish investigating a freight train and minivan crash that injured an Elm Grove police officer and another man.
A 94-car train slammed into a minivan stuck on railroad tracks Monday morning in suburban Milwaukee, where people were waiting for a Memorial Day parade to begin.
Her 47-year-old husband, Scott Partenfelder, who was in a nearby car, ran to help as did Elm Grove police officer John Krahn.
Krahn, 41, got the woman out, and he and the husband attempted to get the Partenfelders' 2-year-old son out of his child seat in the back, Moulas said. But the train hit the van as Krahn was trying to manipulate controls to unlock the doors, Moulas said. The train pushed the van into the men, but the child was not injured.
Krahn and Scott Partenfelder were taken to a local hospital.
A Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital spokeswoman said Partenfelder was still in critical condition late Tuesday evening. His mother-in-law, Pam West, said he was expected to recover.
Krahn, a 17-year police veteran, remained in satisfactory condition late Tuesday.
Moulas said the department was working with the Wisconsin State Patrol, which has a technical reconstruction unit. He said they hope to gather more details to prevent similar events from happening.
When asked about citations or tickets, Moulas said it was "premature to say it's a possibility at this point in time." Neither of the two federal groups that investigate major train accidents, the National Safety Transportation Board or Federal Railroad Administration, was involved.
Moulas said it could take up to two months to finish investigating.
Canadian Pacific spokesman Mike LoVecchio said the company was conducting an internal investigation, which includes studying the black box that records the train's speed. LoVecchio didn't know the speed but said the limit in the area was 50 mph. Trains generally travel below that speed, he said.
The warning lights, alarm and gates generally sound when a train is nearby, LoVecchio said. He wouldn't speculate how close this train was to the crossing when the alarm sounded, saying it depended on the train's exact speed. An automated trigger system generally gives little warning, maybe about 30 seconds, he said.
Local officials generally don't want trains sounding the horn in the area but earlier in the month they contacted Canadian Pacific to request the train blow its horns because of the holiday traffic, and the crew complied, LoVecchio said.
The more questions are answered, the more open up -- I have a bad feeling about this one.
wabash1 Yea right the truth is if he would have got killed you would all be giving him nominations for the darwin awards. but i see idiots everyday stopping on the tracks running around gates , risking their lifes for nothing more than saving a minute .
Yea right the truth is if he would have got killed you would all be giving him nominations for the darwin awards. but i see idiots everyday stopping on the tracks running around gates , risking their lifes for nothing more than saving a minute .
The first gets the Darwin Award, the second gets the Humanitarian Award.
Quite a range indeed.
tree68 zardozUnless, of course, you are talking on the cell phone, putting on makeup, changing the kid's DVD, reading a map, eating, texting, yelling at your kids, etc........ Not to mention that some people's response to a situation like that is to simply freeze.
zardozUnless, of course, you are talking on the cell phone, putting on makeup, changing the kid's DVD, reading a map, eating, texting, yelling at your kids, etc........
Not to mention that some people's response to a situation like that is to simply freeze.
greyhounds spokyone What a brave man, Police Officer John Krahn. A hero indeed. Yes. I don't think there are a whole lot of folks in this world who would have stayed in there like that. He allowed himself to get hit by a train in an effort to save an innocent child's life. There aren't a whole lot like him. We could use a few more.
spokyone What a brave man, Police Officer John Krahn. A hero indeed.
What a brave man, Police Officer John Krahn. A hero indeed.
Yes. I don't think there are a whole lot of folks in this world who would have stayed in there like that. He allowed himself to get hit by a train in an effort to save an innocent child's life. There aren't a whole lot like him. We could use a few more.
There's a crossing on the NS main line in Duncan, SC that has a stop sign not more than a car length from the tracks. Sometimes you have to wonder who designs these things.
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Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
eolafan This should be a BIG lesson to all drivers, whether they be soccer Moms or anybody else, that being "EXPECT A TRAIN ON ANY TRACK, IN ANY DIRECTION, AT ANY TIME!"
This should be a BIG lesson to all drivers, whether they be soccer Moms or anybody else, that being "EXPECT A TRAIN ON ANY TRACK, IN ANY DIRECTION, AT ANY TIME!"
Trains? They run trains on these tracks?
Yes, the police officer is indeed brave and should receive at least a commendation...and the father of the child is also brave and exhibited the appropriate paternal instincts. This should be a BIG lesson to all drivers, whether they be soccer Moms or anybody else, that being "EXPECT A TRAIN ON ANY TRACK, IN ANY DIRECTION, AT ANY TIME!"
the story i heard was they got caught in traffic and stopped on tracks ( real smart) then train came everyone ran to get them free of van. then went back to get child out of van when got hit.
Now the reality check questions and answers
1) there is a car in front of me blocking the way and i dont want to be in a wreck
Ans) Stand on the gas the heck with the front end damage, Most insurance companies would rather pay for a minor accident than the big one your going to have if you sit there and yes probley death to.
2) Husband behind you and your car is stalled he knows this what should he do.
Ans) get behind your car with his and push it out of the way this will work everytime and problem solved (unless your wanting a divorce and she is heavily insured with life insurance). with minor damage.
I have hit cars at 50 mph and at 25 mph and the look of the damages is not much differance it just takes longer to stop at 50mph. the amount of damage done if the loco hits is hard to describe but a scuffed bumper maybe a small dent and your life is what you get out of you making your way off the tracks. Hey heres a no brainer dont stop on tracks.
al-in-chgoIs the grade crossing all that shabby? How does an SUV manage to get "stuck" on the tracks?
Is the grade crossing all that shabby? How does an SUV manage to get "stuck" on the tracks?
The article's not really clear on that. Traffic could have backed up or the engine could have died. From the photo it looks like the engine bay took the worst of it.
I saw this story on MSNBC out of Wisconsin.
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