Amtrak Crash

[domefoamer]

Diesel fuel isn't that easy to ignite without atomization and compression. When I forst got some biodiesel, I wanted to use it to burn out some irrigation ditches in my garden. I threw match after match onto a puddle of it, but I think it would have taken a blowtorch to get it started.

To me, the curious thing about this otherwise commonplace incident is how remote and unpopulated this area is. The TV news pics give a good idea of the vast nothingness of eastern Utah. Just project those closeups of empty desert out to the horizon, miles away. Seems like you'd have to schedule this meet, and if the truck was 10 seconds late, it would have passed behind the train.

[anb740]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45


Hmmmm.. I've ridden Amtrak countless times. Even though K5 horns are loud, unless your in the 1st or 2nd car, or, the engineer is really laying on it.........the horn is not that audible inside of the train. Especially if passengers are engaged in conversation.

All of the Genesis units I know of have horns that have all 5 "trumpets" facing forward. Therefore, it will be hard for anyone in the cars behind the engine to hear it. I believe they did this to ensure that idiots like the truck driver in question would be assured of hearing the thing. Of course, it doesn't work if the driver is determined to prove his stupidity!

[miniwyo]

Well I heard about that before I left for laramie but didnt have a chance too look closer. but here is some pictures that I found of the accident.

http://kutv.com/slideshows/local_slideshow_349110750/view?slide=1

And the Story.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=139697&nid=157

[UPTRAIN]

QUOTE: Originally posted by espeefoamer

He definately won't be passing his stupid genes on to the next generation.If he already has kids he's disqualified for the Darwin award.Amtrak opened the windows?I don't think so.They would have to remove the inside glass and remove the rubber molding strip,then the outside glass would have dropped outside the car onto the ground.The paper got this one wrong,too.

Hey buddy, the downstairs windows in the vestibules on Superliners open to the inside, seperate from the door. It's very possible that the crew did this to let the passengers get some of their so called "relief", I know of this happening, I've seen em do it, lol.

[coborn35]

[soapbox]I really wonder when people are going to learn aout this kind of thing. I think we should rwrite letters to our state DMV and ask them to give OperationLifesaver at classes. Heck, lets get Congress involved.......[:-,]

[TomDiehl]

Can we consider this post "hijacked" yet?

[csxengineer98]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

QUOTE: Originally posted by TomDiehl

Do I hear a nomination of this truck driver for a Darwin Award?

I doubt it, Darwin usually disqualifies vehicle accidents, unless its something very interesting..like a JATO equipped 63 impala!



Bummer[:(]

that one has been proven to be false... so no darwin award for a JATO 63 impala... YET...
csx engineer

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by espeefoamer

He definately won't be passing his stupid genes on to the next generation.If he already has kids he's disqualified for the Darwin award.Amtrak opened the windows?I don't think so.They would have to remove the inside glass and remove the rubber molding strip,then the outside glass would have dropped outside the car onto the ground.The paper got this one wrong,too.

More than likely their referring to the small openable windows on the entry doors on the lower level, I know cause I opened the window (with crew permission) and stuck my camera out to get a photo of a California Mission, Sam Miguel, that the Coast Starlight passed by. Pic came out real nice for 70 mph![;)]

[espeefoamer]

He definately won't be passing his stupid genes on to the next generation.If he already has kids he's disqualified for the Darwin award.Amtrak opened the windows?I don't think so.They would have to remove the inside glass and remove the rubber molding strip,then the outside glass would have dropped outside the car onto the ground.The paper got this one wrong,too.

[Anonymous]

It's in Lincoln now and it should be in Omaha by 4pm.
Allan.

[BaltACD]

Just a routine culling of the gene pool.

[UPTRAIN]

It sucks that the dude got killed, but somebody has to wake up and smell the diesel fumes and look both ways. Who cares that the crew opened up the windows after diesel fuel was spilled, the train stopped a half mile after the point of impact, and probably where the diesel was spilled at and probably from the truck. The horns aren't that audiable inside Superliners, or any that I have ever been on. You can hear the horn well in the crew sleeper, dining car, lounge (because of the huge windows), but usually from the coaches back, it is unheard unless of something trackside reverberating it back to the train. The Genesis units do not have a programed long long short long button to my knowledge, or any I have been in have had it. I know their Dash-8's did/do. But I don't think the P40DC and P42DC's have them. This is unfortunate, but I'm leaning towards the truck driver being at fault.

[blhanel]

I had the same understanding about the award- the nominee must qualify by eliminating the possibility that his/her stupidity will be passed on to the next generation.

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TomDiehl

Do I hear a nomination of this truck driver for a Darwin Award?

I doubt it, Darwin usually disqualifies vehicle accidents, unless its something very interesting..like a JATO equipped 63 impala!

Theres alway going to be questions about Judgement, vision, was he really aware of how close or fast the train was going.. on and on.
As a result not everything gets entered onto the Awards list.

I sent in what I thought was a clear winner, happened out here. Some knumbskull out here who thought it would be Hi-larious to tie a shopping cart to a slow moving frieght train, only to get tangled in his own rope and slowly dragged to death by the train, all while being watched by his teenage son. Stupid, yes. Dead, yes. Guess the fact that he already had passed on the stupid genes to his kids disqualified him from the running.

Didnt get on the list!

Bummer[:(]

[TomDiehl]

Do I hear a nomination of this truck driver for a Darwin Award?

[Modelcar]

.....So they could smoke....?? A little weird....I saw clips of the accident last night and the rear of the truck was still mashed against the Genesis engine....Really smashed too....Engine didn't seem to be heavily damaged. Too bad for the fatility....People don't seem to use enough care around RR tracks when they attempt to cross the tracks.

[tregurtha]

Don't know about the programmed horn on Genesis locos, but I had the same thought about not hearing the horn if you're a few cars back. I have a very hard time believing than an engineer wouldn't sound the horn at an unprotected grade crossing.

[AntonioFP45]

One passenger didn't here the horn?

Hmmmm.. I've ridden Amtrak countless times. Even though K5 horns are loud, unless your in the 1st or 2nd car, or, the engineer is really laying on it.........the horn is not that audible inside of the train. Especially if passengers are engaged in conversation.

Will be interesting how this folds out. Don't the Amtrak Genesis locomotives have a programmed horn button for grade crossings? ( -------- ------- - --------- )

[tregurtha]

According to the Salt Lake City Tribune, one passenger said she did not hear the train's horn before impact, but felt the hit and saw parts of the truck as the train came to a stop about a half mile from the grade crossing. The FRA is investigating. The accident happened about 11 a.m. local time and the train was expected to continue to Chicago late yesterday. The paper said that Amtrak crews immediately opened windows on the passenger cars so passengers could smoke...this despite the fact that 60 to 120 gallons of diesel fuel spilled after the wreck (??)

Ross R.

[paulstecyna21]

okay keep me posted about it

[tregurtha]

No word on whether they shut the line down; but I assume they would have to for an investigation...

[paulstecyna21]

was the train delayed and did they close the line down?

[tregurtha]

Foxnews.com is reporting that the California Zephyr Amtrak train heading to Chicago collided with a truck at a crossing in Utah yesterday, killing the truck driver and injuring several people on the Amtrak train. There are cross bucks but no lights or gates at the crossing. Witnesses said it appeared the truck, which was hauling garbage, tried to beat the train (smart). UP crews were helping rerail the loco which had one wheel off the tracks. When are people going to learn that the 30 or so seconds it takes for an Amtrak train to clear a grade crossing isn't worth their life? Just doesn't make any sense.

Ross R.