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NY Times investigates RR accidents in expose

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  • Member since
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 11:28 AM
I have to chime in on this, its just too funny...
A few weeks ago , most people on this (and other message boards) were blasting UP and its management as the second coming of Satan ,for their actions in suing Lionel and Athearn over their trademarks, and now everyone seems to be DEFENDING them for , if the article is accurate, negligence, incompetence, and the unlawful tampering or destruction of evidence at an accident scene. Heck ,for all we know, maybe the reporter is secretly a disgruntled Model railroader for all we know.(LOL!!!) Personally, I think that UP's arrogant "we'll do whatever we damn well please, 'cause we're UP and we don't have to answer to anybody" attitude has finally come around full circle and they're paying for it now. Call it Karmic Justice....
Besides, my money was on CSX to get busted first, for what its worth....given some of the accidents they've had in New York state since the Conrail split up. You'd think they'd be a more opportune target, being practically in the Times back yard.
  • Member since
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Posted by dharmon on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 11:44 AM
I don't think folks are defending UP as much as they are, at least in my case, defending the RRs as a group. I don't agree with UP's method of enforcing it's trademarks. However, I have and continue to acknowledge that it is within their rights. But at the same time I don't agree with them or any railroad having to pay for someone's inattention or carelessness at a RR crossing. But, if a RR or any company be it trucking, baby food, or whatever, is found to be guilty of gross negligence or tampering, resulting in injury or death, then are at fault, regardless of how much I like or dislike them personally.

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Posted by BaltACD on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 11:57 AM
QUOTE: CSX President Michael Ward's Response

Yesterday and today, the New York Times published lengthy articles on
grade
crossing safety and accident reporting by U.S. railroads, focusing
primarily
on Union Pacific and CSX Transportation. For those of you who have not
seen
the articles, you can read them at the New York Times' website at
www.nytimes.com <http://www.nytimes.com>.
Today's story highlights certain issues that should have been handled
better
by our company related to a 1997 grade crossing fatality involving
17-year-old Hilary Feaster. And while those issues did not lead to the
tragic death of Miss Feaster, we do believe they led to her family's
anger
and sorrow over the tragedy, and we deeply and sincerely regret that.
At the same time, CSXT has done exactly what responsible and decent
companies do when they make mistakes - we have learned and improved; and
that is what is missing from today's story.
As each of you know, CSXT is dedicated to safety in all aspects of
operations, and to preventing grade crossing collisions. The results of
our
efforts speak for themselves: In the last 10 years, train miles on CSXT
have
increased 62% and vehicle miles traveled in the United States have
increased
26%. Yet during the same period, grade crossing accidents on CSXT have
decreased 34%. Our efforts are working.
Last year, CSXT spent over $70 million in grade crossing and signal
maintenance and conducted more than 14,000 man-hours of training for our
more than 1,000 professionals who inspect and maintain grade crossing
signals. And in the last three years, long before the Times began its
inquiry, we have further strengthened our grade crossing and public
safety
efforts with these programs:
* Clear Cutting of Vegetation: We have spent nearly $30
million to clear trees and vegetation along CSX's right-of-way, at
public
grade crossings equipped with so-called "passive" traffic control
devices
(commonly referred to as "crossbucks"). The program's goal is to further
enhance visibility for the motoring public.

* Key FRA Reporting Shifted to Audit: Reporting of key
incidents to the Federal Railroad Administration has been shifted from
the
Operations group to Internal Audit to ensure independence and to take
advantage of Audit's analytical tools. That shift covers employee injury
reporting, train accident reporting and grade crossing collision
reporting.

* Public Safety Communications: In addition to support of
Operation Lifesaver, in which many of you and our retired employees
participate, we have recently launched a high-impact advertising
campaign on
crossing safety. Last week, The Wall Street Journal praised the
campaign. We
have also distributed a new videotape to driver and bus driver education
programs throughout our system.
In addition, CSXT has worked with local and state governments to close
duplicative or otherwise unnecessary crossings, and that effort
continues
today. We have also prevented collisions with the industry's first
installation of stalled vehicle signs at all of our crossings. These
signs
provide the direct toll-free line to our Police Communications Center,
which
has been co-located at the Operations Center for better coordination and
communication. Other railroads have now installed their own stalled
vehicle
signs to enhance crossing safety.
These efforts are consistent with meeting our responsibilities at grade
crossings and in reporting all accidents in accordance with federal
regulations and in an accurate and timely fashion. They also represent
the
continued evolution of our reporting and safety practices. I am sure
there
will be systems in place five years from now that are not in place today
-
just as there are processes in place now that weren't in place five
years
ago. That is because we are always on a path of continuous improvement.
All of this is the work of a company and an industry that cares about
safety
- about the safety of its employees, the residents of communities in
which
we operate, and certainly the motoring public. I am disappointed that
the
New York Times chose to highlight isolated cases and examples that are
not
consistent with the overall performance, practices and grade crossing
safety
record of our company.
Critical stories like these in newspapers as prominent as the New York
Times
are always difficult, particularly for a company that is as committed to
safety as we are. But it does not diminish our commitment to safety nor
the
results we have achieved together.
Thank for your daily focus on employee and public safety and for the job
you
are doing for our company everyday.
Michael

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Randy Stahl on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 11:59 AM
Gee now how hard was that!!!! A much better response than the UP!!!!!
Randy
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    July 2003
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Posted by TH&B on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 12:19 PM



 
Posts: 102

Joined: 04 Jun 2004

Location: roundhouse



Too bad I can't say what I really want to say ( bad word issues) I do feel how ever that the UP spokes person Miss Blackwell doesn't have a clue what the hell she's talking about. I believe there is some factual basis motivating these attacks and the sad part is it makes me ashamed to be a railroader
Randy


And I say "the way other people drive makes me ashamed to be a driver !"
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Posted by edblysard on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 6:12 PM
Guys,
Keep in mind, just like what was stated, Ms Blackwell's statements are taken out of context.
If you think about it, well, play this game.
Go back through any of the posting, on just about any subject we have discussed.
Take only sentences that make the writer sound stupid, leave out anything else.

Did you try?

Easy, aint it!

You dont get to read the question the reporter asked the lady, nor do you get to read her entire reply.

I agree with dan though, UP ought to hire a minority female spokesperson.

Have her explain, on a TV add, how dangerous it is around train tracks and crossings.
Set the tone of a well loved highschool teacher explaining why, oh, smoking is bad for you.
Stress the
Stop, Look and Listen (or Live) slogan, heck its plastered on a lot of locomotives.

I also would purchase a full page ad, directly across from the page the reports appear on, itemizing every thing UP has done to improve grade crossings.
Get aggresive.

They wont, of course, flying under the public radar is the norm for railroads.

Ed

23 17 46 11

  • Member since
    March 2002
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Posted by edblysard on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 6:35 PM
Guys,
Keep in mind, just like what was stated, Ms Blackwell's statements are taken out of context.
If you think about it, well, play this game.
Go back through any of the posting, on just about any subject we have discussed.
Take only sentences that make the writer sound stupid, leave out anything else.

Did you try?

Easy, aint it!

You dont get to read the question the reporter asked the lady, nor do you get to read her entire reply.

I agree with dan though, UP ought to hire a minority female spokesperson.

Have her explain, on a TV add, how dangerous it is around train tracks and crossings.
Set the tone of a well loved highschool teacher explaining why, oh, smoking is bad for you.
Stress the
Stop, Look and Listen (or Live) slogan, heck its plastered on a lot of locomotives.

I also would purchase a full page ad, directly across from the page the reports appear on, itemizing every thing UP has done to improve grade crossings.
Get aggresive.

They wont, of course, flying under the public radar is the norm for railroads.

Ed

23 17 46 11

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Thursday, July 22, 2004 11:50 AM
Sorry to bring this to the top again, but FRA took the gloves off and called NYT on the carpet for their blatant cheap shot:

http://www.fra.dot.gov

http://www.fra.dot.gov/Downloads/PubAffairs/NYT%20Grade%20Crossing%20Issue%20Brieffinal.pdf

(for those of you with .pdf readers_)
Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,022 posts
Posted by tree68 on Thursday, July 22, 2004 12:28 PM
Way to go FRA! Unfortunately, none of the "regular" people who read the NYT article will ever see this response. Maybe we should take up a collection to run a full page ad of it in the NYT.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    September 2002
  • From: Rockton, IL
  • 4,821 posts
Posted by jeaton on Thursday, July 22, 2004 1:02 PM
MC-Thanks for bringing this back. I was on the road and didn't have a chance to follow the thread when it came up.

I, as many, felt that the article was an ambush. Find the relatively rare event where the railroads and/or regulators might be culpable and make it sound like it is the norm. Objectivity would have suggested that the reporters should have looked at the few reports suggesting railroad error and questioned if it goes on all the time. It appears they decided that it goes on all the time and then started their investigation. Either that, or after completing the investigation, they realized they didn't have a really hot story, and had to write so they wouldn't get hell from the Times' editors for wasting time and money on a "puff piece". As for quality editorial oversight at the Times, does "Fabrication" ring a bell?

The railroads were kind of stuck and had to use some care with their damage control, but I think the FRA was definately intitled to come out with guns blazing.

Jay

"We have met the enemy and he is us." Pogo Possum "We have met the anemone... and he is Russ." Bucky Katt "Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Niels Bohr, Nobel laureate in physics

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