Transport Canada Alleges Insufficient Handbrakes Set As Basis For Obtaining Search Warrant Of MM&A

[Anonymous]

I am still confused about the purpose of the search warrant.  I have not downloaded it and tried to read it.  Maybe it says something interesting, but if the article cannot make the effort to explain anything about this story, I hesitate to make an effort to read the warrant.

I too sense that there are some bad relations between MM&A and others.  Perhaps it is a labor issue.  In any case, the finding of insufficient handbrakes is interesting.  However, the prospect of someone tampering with the train that ran away would apply tenfold to the second train. 

The motivation to release handbrakes on that second train in order to demonstrate something about the MM&A would have been enormous; considering that the prospect of insufficient handbrakes causing the runaway.  With that train sitting there for a few days, the opportunity to secretly release some its handbrakes would have been sufficient. 

[Bonaventure10]

 From my observations in the field  Handbrake setting was done as needed or what the conducter or carmen felt should be done. After this accedent first 3 cars are now set in every swithing move slowing everything down big time.

[AgentKid]

henry6

I am getting the message that there is and has been a long time war against MM&A

Not a long time war. MM&A, like RR's everywhere, are an "out of sight out of mind" type of thing until something goes wrong. Then there is a natural overreaction and everyone wants to know how such a thing could have happened and who to blame.

Bruce

[AgentKid]

Semper Vaporo

I am not sure about that bit of a handbrake not holding a locomotive.  I think something got lost in the transcription from what was said and what got printed.  Until someone can expound on what was said and what may have been meant

I don't claim to know either, but this issue did come up in several threads here back in the first decade of the 21st Century. The threads also involved discussions of the differences between brakewheel versus ratchet type actuators, if that would help in anyone's searches.

Bruce

[henry6]

I am getting the message that there is and has been a long time war against MM&A and they are looking for everything and anything to throw at the railroad even if it is conjecture and innuendo to incite emotions of the public.

[Semper Vaporo]

It is merely empirical evidence that the RR habitually neglects to set sufficient handbrakes.  Doesn't prove that the Lak Magantic wreck was caused by too few handbrakes but it sure shows a precedent for it.

 

Releasing this info to the public at this time may be a mistake on someone's part, or possibly because someone has an agenda to fulfill. It is interesting info anyway.

 

I am not sure about that bit of a handbrake not holding a locomotive.  I think something got lost in the transcription from what was said and what got printed.  Until someone can expound on what was said and what may have been meant, I will basically not let it color my perspective of all of this.  Incomplete information is evident in the statement.

 

 

[Anonymous]

This is confusing. They inspected the second train and found insufficient handbrakes.  But what were they looking for with the search warrant of MM&A offices?   What does finding insufficient handbrakes set on the second train have to do with the train that ran away?  And why on earth would this information have been released to the public at this time?

Is it true that a handbrake is incapable of holding a locomotive parked on a grade, as the CN engineer says?

 

[AgentKid]

In a Global News exclusive, it is revealed that upon further inspection more than one train on the MM&A was left unattended with insufficient handbrakes set at the time of the wreck at Lac-Mégantic. Story with video:

http://globalnews.ca/news/811131/another-mma-train-accident-waiting-to-happen/

Bruce