My apologies for bringing this up again, but I just recently viewed the in-cab shot of this accident on You Tube, and I am totally in awe. The magnitute of it, the events that unfolded, and that fact that everyone survived just amazes me. I have read all the post here on the Trains Forum, and I have done some other research on the accident, and there seems to be one thing conflicting in all the reports I have read. I am hoping that someone out there can help clear this up for me. I have two questions:
1. Which crew members bailed from their respective trains? Everything that I have read says that two of the five crew members rode it out, but the articles are not consistent with which ones actaully jumped. If the crew members in BNSF 4479 (camera loco) did in fact bail, how did they know what was going to happen early enough to bail? What coudl they have seen, heard, etc.? When the signal dropped in their face, they had no time to react. And if they did in fact ride it out, I must say that they are very lucky people based on the damage photo of 4479. It is obvious that at least one crew member jumps from 4059 as seen in the video. Damage photos of 4059 suggest that if any crew members rode it out in that loco, it would be quite believable that they survived.
2. Does any one have a link to or know of the official FRA report on the accident? I have been unable to find it.
The local Norfolk Southern crews in the area have told me that they are seeing this video in their monthly safelty meetings. I guess this would make a very convincing safety topic. Anyway, if anyone can help me with these two questions, I would greatly appreicate it.
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