Train Vs Building

[Anonymous]

This caught my attention this morning 

 

Train Slams Into Convenience Store

 

LANCASTER, S.C. -- A train crashed into a convenience store in Lancaster, S.C. Wednesday, seriously injuring one person and knocking the building off its foundation.It appears that the train jumped the tracks, but as of late Wednesday afternoon, there was no explanation as to why.One of the cars slammed into the Buy-Rite Discount Beverage and Cigarettes Store.

The injured person was flown to a Columbia hospital.

 

Nick 

[beegle55]

I saw that on the Today show today. I thought about it, and it made me wonder what the railroading industry is coming to. Just the other day, a CSX freight derailed and was thought to be leaking toxic waste into the city of Charleston or somewhere like that, and they evacuated half of the city. Turned out it was nothing major, but it seems at least twice a week I hear about train wrecks, and I laugh a little because there are more derailments now in the real world than on my layout!!

[jecorbett]

Would the lawyers please line up neatly in a single file line. Please, no pushing or climbing over each other.

[Hoople]

I saw that on the Today show today. I thought about it, and it made me wonder what the railroading industry is coming to. Just the other day, a CSX freight derailed and was thought to be leaking toxic waste into the city of Charleston or somewhere like that, and they evacuated half of the city. Turned out it was nothing major, but it seems at least twice a week I hear about train wrecks, and I laugh a little because there are more derailments now in the real world than on my layout!!

And 80% of the time there CSX wrecks!

[Zandoz]

That one brings back memories.  About 30 years ago, about 5 blocks from our house, a B&O/C&O (that will always be the B&O to me) freight jumped the tracks at the crossing with the once upon a time Wabash, then N&W.  Several cars obliterated a near track side bar.  Luckily it was after hours.  I do not remeber if it was the same derailment, or another not long after, but on the same stretch of track a flatbed car carrying 4WD farm tractors did an end-over-end, catapulting the tractors into a track side city park...one of them landed square on on a shelter house.  With all of CSX's problems of late, it makes me wonder when it's going to happen on that stretch of track again...they now own it.

[EspeeEngineer]

To answer beegle55's thought/question...... The railroads (especially CSX and NS) are so desperate for help they rush the newbies through a 10 week school like training and then a cubbing period where the new hires are put with crews to learn life on the rails. The problem is they are not being taught to railroad.....they are being taught to move freight at the most economical means for the company and to work with as much thought as a robot. On top of that all the "old heads" are stressed and pushed to their limits. Because of these combinations and no time off you have crews falling asleep, not paying close attention due to fatigue and MAJOR incidents occurring. It has become a very sad state of doing business for CSX and NS.

[dl&w brakeman]

   Could not agree more with EspeeEng. They run ads in the paper to just show up at the yard,"looking for conductors". Just like the commuter rr, the old dl&w they hire off the street with more training in revenue and ticket collection than railroading. Newbie works as a Ticket collector and the takes the conductors exam 2 to 2 and 1/2 years later and presto change o guess who's  in charge. Don't get me wrong I hired off the street, but to me it was more than a job. I worked the yard, every flag job immaginable and rear brake jobs. Learned from day one. Now with rapid expansion, no time to learn just get out there and fill a spot, we need a warm body. Even the engine training school turns out people who think the know it all and won't take directions from others. Yes, some are fired, but some just continue on thinking it's a big game not a hazzardous occupation to be learned and improved upon over years of practice. I fear there are more problems to come as these young hot shots become the majority of employees on todays railroads. It's real guys, not just a computer game!