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EB off the rails (may have split switch )

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  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
EB off the rails (may have split switch )
Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, April 28, 2014 8:19 PM

Cannot make this up.  Amtrak says Empire Builder  " slipped "  off the track in Montana.  Last 3 cars so probably the Portland section ?

 

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-bound-Amtrak-train-partially-derails-in-Montana-257067411.html

 

 

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 3:42 PM
blue streak 1

Cannot make this up.  Amtrak says Empire Builder  " slipped "  off the track in Montana.  Last 3 cars so probably the Portland section ?

 

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-bound-Amtrak-train-partially-derails-in-Montana-257067411.html

 

 

"Slipped off"? I never thought that the Portland section was unhappy with the Seattle section, and wanted to go its own way without causing a great ruckus, so it would just slip off from the rest of the train.

Johnny

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 8,156 posts
Posted by henry6 on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 4:06 PM

I don't see a quote around the term "slipped off" so I don't believe it came from Amtrak.  But I will defend the use of  "slipped off" because there was no major derailment nor damage nor injuries.  It was used as a term so as not to provoke panic nor alarm.  In effect the use of "crash", "derailed",  even "came off the tracks" sounds harsher than "slipped off".  For the way most of today's journalists write and their lack of knowledge about railroading, this is not the worst I've seen or heard.

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