News Wire: Amtrak operates crew qualifying trains for new Roanoke service

[Brian Schmidt]

WASHINGTON – Amtrak, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation and Norfolk Southern, is operating non-scheduled trains, beginning June 5. These trains serve as training for locomotive engineers and train co...

http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2017/06/05-amtrak-operates-crew-qualifying-trains-for-new-roanoke-service

[blue streak 1]

Some pictures and news from Roanoke times newspaper.

 

http://www.roanoke.com/business/news/roanoke/amtrak-test-train-rumbles-into-downtown-roanoke/article_63327a5b-c69b-5c2d-822a-11855fd8612a.html

 

[blue streak 1]

Even a test train cannot avoid hitting a vehicle.  It hit a back hoe that fell off an overhead bridge.  Positive back hoe control ? ?

http://wset.com/news/local/officials-backhoe-hit-by-train-two-people-trapped

[blue streak 1]

Definitely not one of your more inviting bridges.  Maybe one of MC's nightmares ?

http://www.wsls.com/news/virginia/bedford/crews-responding-after-backhoe-goes-over-bridge-hit-by-amtrak-train-in-beford-county

 

[BaltACD]

blue streak 1

Definitely not one of your more inviting bridges.  Maybe one of MC's nightmares ?

http://www.wsls.com/news/virginia/bedford/crews-responding-after-backhoe-goes-over-bridge-hit-by-amtrak-train-in-beford-county

TV report pictures make it look like the backhoe operator was 'hot footing' down the dirt road approacing the bridge and was 'surprised' by how sharp the curve to get on the bridge was and just didn't make the curve and crashed through the bridge's protection.