Trains.com

Trapped on Amtrak! (Help let me out!!!....lol)

1940 views
6 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Dallas, TX
  • 6,952 posts
Trapped on Amtrak! (Help let me out!!!....lol)
Posted by CMStPnP on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 8:29 PM

Rather humorous but also rather surprising the Conductor did not check the train?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/student-trapped-inside-empty-amtrak-203241532.html

 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 1,530 posts
Posted by NKP guy on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 10:35 AM

CMStPnP
Rather humorous but also rather surprising the Conductor did not check the train?

I take your point, but this isn't really humorous.  When it happens to kids on a schoolbus the parents rightly go ballistic.  Amtrak is lucky nothing bad happened.

As railfans, you and I have some ideas of what to do, but to an average young passenger it could be scary, indeed.  I'm guessing this all unfolded in the daylight, but it might have been quite different after dark.

 

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Posted by blue streak 1 on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 9:50 PM

+-There is a problem in checking a superliner.  How does the conductor check both levels ?  That is not too easy depending on his / her location when everyone leaves the train.  is the conductor in the middle train?  For back ins conductor would be at rear and could walk upper level then go on platform and check eack car.   Otherwise on pull ins???

Further question where does conductor go off duty??  What about assistant conductors.  and OBS?

  • Member since
    September 2017
  • 5,636 posts
Posted by charlie hebdo on Thursday, January 25, 2024 9:54 AM

blue streak 1

+-There is a problem in checking a superliner.  How does the conductor check both levels ?  That is not too easy depending on his / her location when everyone leaves the train.  is the conductor in the middle train?  For back ins conductor would be at rear and could walk upper level then go on platform and check eack car.   Otherwise on pull ins???

Further question where does conductor go off duty??  What about assistant conductors.  and OBS?

 

It's not humorous and the train crew was derelict in their duties to check interior of train. Perhaps they were eager to get off duty.

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, January 25, 2024 11:59 AM

CMStPnP
Rather humorous but also rather surprising the Conductor did not check the train?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/student-trapped-inside-empty-amtrak-203241532.html

As I read the article I am led to believe the final destination of the passenger was Chicago Union Station.  The story leads me to believe that the sleeping passenger woke up as the train was being moved from the station proper to the coach yard that supports Union Station.  I suspect the Amtrak crew was still ON DUTY and on the train and was in charge of moving it to the coach yard where they would be going off duty.

I don't know what if any efforts were made to ensure all passengers had disembarked at Union Station.  Suspect Conductor or Asst. Conductor opened the door of the car and DIDN'T SEE anyone upright in any seats.  The sleeping individual was likely slumped over and was below arm rest level when the car was visually surveyed.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Dallas, TX
  • 6,952 posts
Posted by CMStPnP on Thursday, January 25, 2024 11:32 PM

BaltACD
As I read the article I am led to believe the final destination of the passenger was Chicago Union Station

She boarded the Northbound City of New Orleans in Carbondale at 3:15 a.m.    The Train arrived in Chicago at 9:15 a.m.    She is a student at the University in Carbondale.    So she was riding on a Long Distance train vs an all coach train.  

BaltACD
I don't know what if any efforts were made to ensure all passengers had disembarked at Union Station.  Suspect Conductor or Asst. Conductor opened the door of the car and DIDN'T SEE anyone upright in any seats.  The sleeping individual was likely slumped over and was below arm rest level when the car was visually surveyed. Add Quote to your Post

Well I can't speak for train Conductor training but as a long ago school bus driver, your supposed to walk the inside length of the bus and look between the seats to make sure they are empty after each run.    So you do not accidently haul someone away like this.   

So it depends on Amtrak Training I guess.   I noticed on the Hiawatha Trains the Amtrak Conductor walks the interior length of each train car of the train looking between the seats.    That is a corridor conductor though (potentially different labor contracts?).    So not sure if there is a difference in procedure there or if the training is the same between train types........no idea.

  • Member since
    September 2017
  • 5,636 posts
Posted by charlie hebdo on Friday, January 26, 2024 10:56 AM

CMStPnP
She boarded the Northbound City of New Orleans in Carbondale at 3:15 a.m.    The Train arrived in Chicago at 9:15 a.m.    She is a student at the University in Carbondale.    So she was riding on a Long Distance train vs an all coach train.  

An SIU (Southern Illinois University) student, going home in Chicago area for semester break after finals. She probably sat in coach, not in a sleeping car so I fail to see why a conductor didn't spot her asleep.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy