(CNN)A train carrying members of Congress -- including House Speaker Paul Ryan -- to their legislative retreat in West Virginia hit a truck Wednesday, multiple sources told CNN....
http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/31/politics/congress-train-accident/index.html
Latest info is one of the three people in the truck died, another taken to the hospital. Rep. Jason Lewis of MN was taken to the hospital for possible concussion.
The accident occurred in Crozet VA on the way to the Greenbriar in White Sulphur Springs VA.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/train-carrying-gop-lawmakers-hits-truck-1-reported-dead-173332153.html
At the risk of getting political wouldn't it made a better headline had members of congress driving a truck got hit by a locomotive while thinking theywere imune?
Norm
It looks like a photo of Amtrak P42 #145, in 40th Anniversary paint, presumably taken by Rep. Jeff Denham, is making the rounds as being the engine involved in the accident.
Other photos show the wreckage of the garbage truck with Amtrak #4 in the background.
Something smells fishy there...
Ed
gmpullmanIt looks like a photo of Amtrak P42 #145, in 40th Anniversary paint, presumably taken by Rep. Jeff Denham, is making the rounds as being the engine involved in the accident. Other photos show the wreckage of the garbage truck with Amtrak #4 in the background. Something smells fishy there... Ed
Double ended engines on the train - 145 in lead and 4 in trail. The only thing smelling is the spilled trash.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACDDouble ended engines on the train - 145 in lead and 4 in trail. The only thing smelling is the spilled trash.
That had me going for a bit - looking for a location that looked right based on the images from the scene, then trying to figure out how a westbound train had a locomotive facing east. Then it dawned on me that 145 had the damage, but 4 was in the TV feeds.
https://www.statter911.com/2018/01/31/breaking-republican-train-wreck-not-metaphor/
Finally found a news site that gave the specific location, a little west of downtown Crozet: 38.07731 -78.71672
One source said a congressman was doing CPR on the conductor. I'm presuming they meant engineer, but the only fatality reported was in the truck.
Larry 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...
tree68That had me going for a bit - looking for a location that looked right based on the images from the scene, then trying to figure out how a westbound train had a locomotive facing east.
I see!
That would also explain why #4 was stopped right next to the damaged garbage truck. Looks like 145 is on the ground, though. Good thing it slid to a stop without anything else derailing!
In Jeff Denham's photo 145's snowplow is eating the rail, then in the video linked above, the train is slowly backing up? That sure seems odd to me... but, maybe they cut the derailed lead engine (145) and pulled the train back, apparently to remove an injured person.
Thanks for the clarification, Ed
POSITIVE TRUCK CONTROL (PTC) .... NOW!
(1) GBO and DOTsay the existing technology is on the shelf, ready to go! (What? - You already bought that line of baloney once? - Why not now?)
(2) Make the truckers and bus people pay for it. They're rich and have limitless deep pockets!!!(Your more liberal buddies seem to think so. Just like any other company or corporation?)
(3) POSITIVE TRUCK CONTROL WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS!!!
As long as trains and other metal objects are magnetic this will happen. Just make trains anti magnetic.
Y6bs evergreen in my mind
As mentioned in my other reply, I would like to see the forward facing video from the lead unit. This is former C&O.
Ed Burns
Degaussing cables were tried in WW2, then they used accoustic homing devices.
One of the talking heads on a western TV station mentioned as part of his running commentary (a good deal of which was laughable, at least for anyone who knows anything about railroads) that he'd like to see cameras on all crossings... "I know it will be expensive..."
Are we sure this wasn't an ISIS inspired Suicide Garbage Attack to strike at the heart of Congress?
BaltACD Are we sure this wasn't an ISIS inspired Suicide Garbage Attack to strike at the heart of Congress?
Well, the talking heads mentioned that possibility, too....
Baltimore ACD or others:
The town is Crozet. Is is pronounced "Crozet (heavy on the [T[) or "Crozay"? I have heard both on the news.
SAMUEL C WALKERThat is what is of great concern. Any person(s) bent upon chaos apparently could create chaos at will at many points along the right of way for the trip to White Sulphur Springs. Was there surveillance of the right of way? Were grade crossings supervised by local local law enforcement? This yearly sojourn to the Greenbriar has been going on for years. The ease for the circumstances of the collision to happen raises concern.
Does anyone know what equipment was in this train?
Johnny
DeggestyDoes anyone know what equipment was in this train?
I don't know Amtrak equipment. Looks like it was all the same equipment. Plenty of images in the news videos (click the Statter911 link).
It's Crow zay.
SAMUEL C WALKERVery disturbibg as to vulnerability of a passenger train with virtually the whole of the majority party of both the Houses and Senate. Is there surveillance of the route before and during trip? Are grade crossings monitored by law enforcement for the trip?As this event has happened, what prevents a saboteur from causing chaos?
Will they be taking the train back to DC? or hitch a ride on Air Force One?
seppburgh2ride on Air Force One
Russell
seppburgh2 Will they be taking the train back to DC? or hitch a ride on Air Force One?
I don't think there's an airstrip that can handle AF1 there. They'll just do what they've done in past years - take busses.
Even Railway Age is fuzzy with facts
http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/passenger/intercity/probe-begins-in-fatal-amtrak-gop-crash.html
Apparently someone at Railway Age believes that if a train does not run every day, even though it runs westbound every Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday and eastbound every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday it is not regular service?
Deggesty SAMUEL C WALKER That is what is of great concern. Any person(s) bent upon chaos apparently could create chaos at will at many points along the right of way for the trip to White Sulphur Springs. Was there surveillance of the right of way? Were grade crossings supervised by local local law enforcement? This yearly sojourn to the Greenbriar has been going on for years. The ease for the circumstances of the collision to happen raises concern. I also wonder. Had it been a POTUS special (will we ever see another?), there certainly should have been surveillance all along the route--and there should have been surveillance along the route for this train. Does anyone know what equipment was in this train?
SAMUEL C WALKER That is what is of great concern. Any person(s) bent upon chaos apparently could create chaos at will at many points along the right of way for the trip to White Sulphur Springs. Was there surveillance of the right of way? Were grade crossings supervised by local local law enforcement? This yearly sojourn to the Greenbriar has been going on for years. The ease for the circumstances of the collision to happen raises concern.
I also wonder. Had it been a POTUS special (will we ever see another?), there certainly should have been surveillance all along the route--and there should have been surveillance along the route for this train.
Recall, in January of 2017, the Democrat Congressional Special move, from D.C. to their conference in Shepardstown, W.Va. ? It was during a stop on I-701 between Washington and the area of Frederick, Md. that there was a fatality crash? It was apparently while the motorcade was stopped on the highway for some kind of security measure ( the Congressional delegation was in a couple of buses, and assorted motor vehicles); public traffic was stopped, and while they were stopped; a dump truck ran into the back of that stopped traffic line. The last couple of vehicles were large trucks in the line of stopped traffic. An SUV was pushed into the stopped traffic by the dump truck that had failed to stop in time, and its (SUV's) occupant's incenerated, in the crushed vehicle.
In light of that, it is possible that the Republican's opted for a special train to take them from Washington to White Sulphur Springs; The former CSX Resort, at one time had its own train station. I think the President was 'helicoptered' down for his speech in Marine One from Wahington ??
samfp1943 Deggesty SAMUEL C WALKER That is what is of great concern. Any person(s) bent upon chaos apparently could create chaos at will at many points along the right of way for the trip to White Sulphur Springs. Was there surveillance of the right of way? Were grade crossings supervised by local local law enforcement? This yearly sojourn to the Greenbriar has been going on for years. The ease for the circumstances of the collision to happen raises concern. I also wonder. Had it been a POTUS special (will we ever see another?), there certainly should have been surveillance all along the route--and there should have been surveillance along the route for this train. Does anyone know what equipment was in this train? Johnny: I am not exactly sure of what the Security protocols' are for an Official Congressional Delegation journey... A POTUS Special train seems to have 'all the stops plulled out' where on-line scecurity measures are concerned; on bord security, lineside security, measures utilizing not only local law enforcement, as well as federal, and in some cases utilizing military components, as well to secure the environment the special operates in, as well as equipment running the line ahead of the special train. Recall, in January of 2017, the Democrat Congressional Special move, from D.C. to their conference in Shepardstown, W.Va. ? It was during a stop on I-701 between Washington and the area of Frederick, Md. that there was a fatality crash? It was apparently while the motorcade was stopped on the highway for some kind of security measure ( the Congressional delegation was in a couple of buses, and assorted motor vehicles); public traffic was stopped, and while they were stopped; a dump truck ran into the back of that stopped traffic line. The last couple of vehicles were large trucks in the line of stopped traffic. An SUV was pushed into the stopped traffic by the dump truck that had failed to stop in time, and its (SUV's) occupant's incenerated, in the crushed vehicle. In light of that, it is possible that the Republican's opted for a special train to take them from Washington to White Sulphur Springs; The former CSX Resort, at one time had its own train station. I think the President was 'helicoptered' down for his speech in Marine One from Wahington ??
Johnny: I am not exactly sure of what the Security protocols' are for an Official Congressional Delegation journey... A POTUS Special train seems to have 'all the stops plulled out' where on-line scecurity measures are concerned; on bord security, lineside security, measures utilizing not only local law enforcement, as well as federal, and in some cases utilizing military components, as well to secure the environment the special operates in, as well as equipment running the line ahead of the special train.
Seems as if Congress can't travel without killing someone!
It was C&O's resort. What would become CSX was only a dream at the time.
The law enforcement presence that would be required to cover a train doing 70 through that rural countryside would probably outstrip the local law community's abilities in sheer numbers.
A MI state trooper was assigned to chase one of the all-day trips out of Owosso during the big event there in 2009. She gave up after the first crossing outside of town, as the tracks ran at an angle crosslots, and the roads there are in a grid.
The Clinton's visited our area some years ago. The Interstate was shut down between where their plane landed and where they went, but that was only about six exits over some 30 miles. Much less of a challenge, although if you wanted to speed on a local road, that was probably the time to do it...
Had that been a POTUS move, in addition to every crossing being protected, there probably would have been a pilot train. I was going to say a hirail, but then it occured to me what a hirail ride at 70 MPH would be like...
SAMUEL C WALKERAny person(s) bent upon chaos apparently could create chaos at will at many points along the right of way for the trip to White Sulphur Springs. Was there surveillance of the right of way? Were grade crossings supervised by local local law enforcement?
A particularly alarming thing to me is the type of vehicle involved, which can easily be converted into a substantial IED by loading premade devices resembling 'garbage' items without much suspicion; this might be done unwittingly by a legitimate crew on a particular day, and the vehicle then hijacked close in space and time to the target crossing and detonated remotely. It might be interesting to consider the blast radius of a substantial amount of boosted ANFO surrounded by general metallic junk in one of these reinforced truck bodies.
The fact of the collision speaks adequately to any professionalism in surveillance or law-enforcement supervision. Compare what was done on special 'express' runs back around the turn of the 20th Century, with appropriate personnel watching each switch or crossing for potential intrusion. It would be unfair to use only 'local' law enforcement for this purpose; you wouldn't do this with the number of separate police cruisers and teams corresponding to all the road crossings, but you'd want some sort of personnel, perhaps Secret Service people or FBI agents, with radios and cameras at every one close to and during train time.
And yes, I would arm them, and yes, with fairly substantial weapons capability, but concealed from the public.
Recall, too, the recent incident where a bulldozer was parked on the tracks, far from the nearest crossing.
As Sam notes: Where there's a will, there's a way.
That said, I suspect that in the end we'll find that this was just another grade crossing incident. I don't know what time the scheduled Amtrak trains pass through there, but this train was likely "off cycle," meaning that the driver wasn't alarmed because he thought it was "just another slow moving freight."
AFAIK, We haven't heard if the truck was stuck, or entered the crossing after the signals activated.
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