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Grade Crossing accident - this one is a head shaker

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Posted by LensCapOn on Monday, May 16, 2016 9:42 AM

Is there much of a "oh WOW!" factor among truckers, now that medical marijana is legal in so many places? (whistles. avoids eye contact)

 

 

 

Long distance driving is a drag and drivers can do interesting things to servive it.

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Posted by Cotton Belt MP104 on Sunday, May 15, 2016 10:37 PM

Posted by tree68 on Saturday, May 14, 2016 6:29 AM   Navy incident, sad but interesting accident in that it seems an earthquake in Japan a week earlier was a large contributing factor ….  what came to my mind was the tragedy in Midland TX    One would think… how in the world could a semi be driven onto tracks in front of a train?   Normally one would not think twice about what the driver had to contend with.  He had a flatbed truck load of people and I am sure he was scared to death about dumping them onto the street. My guess is he was constantly watching “his loaded flatbed”. During the total route he was being protected by police at all intersections. His concern was to keep rolling and not dump his load of people. Others were taking care of his safe passage along the parade route.  As in the ship accident they were following as ordered.  This poor guy was only concerned with not dumping folks off the flatbed.  Then too the huge slip up was the retirement of the police personnel who every year past would notify UP of events.  It is easy to overlook things and would sure show the need to have a checklist for events like this.  This drifts into the two-man crew subject.  Wonder if the semi driver had a second “look out” in the cab? Endmrw0515162233

The ONE the ONLY/ Paragould, Arkansas/ Est. 1883 / formerly called The Crossing/ a portmanteau/ JW Paramore (Cotton Belt RR) Jay Gould (MoPac)/crossed at our town/ None other, NOWHERE in the world
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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Sunday, May 15, 2016 4:09 PM

tree68
Kinda reminds me of the Honda Point Disaster, wherein seven destroyers, essentially running nose-to-tail, following the leader, ran aground.  The leader miscalculated its position and made the left turn into the the Santa Barbara Channel just that much too soon...

They were running at 20 knots.   Several sailors died.

Perhaps surprisingly, there is a railroad connection to this:  The initial rescue efforts were by a SP section gang that had a bunkhouse nearby.  The survivors were transported by rail to a nearby town.  Many years ago there was an article in Railroad Magazine about it:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Railroad-Magazine-Oct-1966-Shipwrecked-Sailors-rescued-by-Southern-Pacific-/222099227037?hash=item33b625419d 

See also: http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=11807 

EDITED: Once again: "Section people are wonderful.  They can do anything.  When you get into trouble on the railroad, you call the section people." - From Trains, circa 1982, quote from an SP or UP official.

- Paul North.

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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Posted by MikeF90 on Saturday, May 14, 2016 4:19 PM

NDG
'Loss of situational awareness' was UNOFFICIAL report @ scene, to borrow a phrase from a well-regarded Forum Member a while ago.

No kidding.

Looking at Google Street view, the view at that crossing is blocked by a whole lot of ............. nothing.  Prairie dog stampede?  Swarming mosquitos?

Crossing has flashing lights and crossbuck protection, so it shouldn't be hard to miss.

Local sunrise was about 5:45am, so ambient lighting should not have been a factor in the 6:45am collisions. No one mentioned fog, which is a big issue in our San Joaquin valley at certain times of the year.

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Posted by caldreamer on Saturday, May 14, 2016 10:51 AM

This is the first time that I have ever heard of a triple header.  Luckily no one was killed.

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Posted by Shadow the Cats owner on Saturday, May 14, 2016 10:16 AM

The only thing I can think of is maybe sun in the eyes of the drivers and they had been driving all night so tired also.  They where empty heading back to reload with more drilling fluid for a mine so they more then likely run that road all the time.  Fatiuge will make you do some crazy things.  

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Posted by Euclid on Saturday, May 14, 2016 10:04 AM

I believe that when one vehicle is following another and both drivers know each other, there is a high potential for distraction, especially of the second driver.  Often times the very reason for one driver to be following another is that the second driver does not know the way to the destination.  So, you will hear the first driver say to the second driver, “Don’t worry, just follow me.”  That is where the recipe for disaster begins.

The second driver suspends his discretion and puts complete faith in the first driver.  Then the only thing on the mind of the second driver is to not lose the first driver.  The main potential cause for the second driver losing the first driver is another vehicle getting between them, or a traffic light catching the second driver after the first driver gets past it. 

The way to protect against that problem is for the second driver to follow the first very closely.  The lead driver is also distracted by the need to keep an eye on the following driver to make sure he does not lose the follower.    

 

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Posted by tree68 on Saturday, May 14, 2016 6:29 AM

Kinda reminds me of the Honda Point Disaster, wherein seven destroyers, essentially running nose-to-tail, following the leader, ran aground.  The leader miscalculated its position and made the left turn into the the Santa Barbara Channel just that much too soon...

They were running at 20 knots.   Several sailors died.

 

LarryWhistling
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...

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Friday, May 13, 2016 11:36 PM

This report CN claims train was already occupying crossing and truck (s) hit train.

http://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/train-collides-with-semi-truck-derailing-several-cars-in-east-alberta


Thank You.

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Posted by NorthWest on Friday, May 13, 2016 9:39 PM

THREE independently driven trucks????

Another brake failure incident with poor fleet maintenence?

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Posted by K. P. Harrier on Friday, May 13, 2016 9:02 PM

Unbelievable, cx500!

Were all these truckers driving in Blue Angels fashion?  The famous Blue Angels flight team has been known to fly right in the ground, as in follow the leader no matter what he does.

Where was the individual sense of responsibility and awareness of their surroundings with those guys?  I just don’t get it!  Head shaker alright!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- K.P.’s absolute “theorem” from early, early childhood that he has seen over and over and over again: Those that CAUSE a problem in the first place will act the most violently if questioned or exposed.

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Grade Crossing accident - this one is a head shaker
Posted by cx500 on Friday, May 13, 2016 6:08 PM

The news reports are not clear, but I get the sense that the first truck may have run into the side of the moving train.

John

http://globalnews.ca/news/2699776/man-seriously-injured-as-3-haulers-train-collide-near-alberta-saskatchewan-border/

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