Trains.com

Train Carrying Members of Congress Hits Truck

6183 views
56 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,022 posts
Posted by tree68 on Friday, February 2, 2018 1:00 PM

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...

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
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Friday, February 2, 2018 12:46 PM

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  ??

Seems as if Congress can't travel without killing someone!

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: South Central,Ks
  • 7,170 posts
Posted by samfp1943 on Friday, February 2, 2018 11:46 AM

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  ??

 

 


 

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Thursday, February 1, 2018 7:44 PM

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?

Johnny

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, February 1, 2018 7:19 PM

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,022 posts
Posted by tree68 on Thursday, February 1, 2018 4:42 PM

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.

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: North Carolina
  • 1,905 posts
Posted by csxns on Thursday, February 1, 2018 4:41 PM

seppburgh2
ride on Air Force One

The news said they went by bus.

Russell

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • 399 posts
Posted by seppburgh2 on Thursday, February 1, 2018 4:13 PM

Will they be taking the train back to DC? or hitch a ride on Air Force One?

  • Member since
    September 2014
  • 1,180 posts
Posted by ROBERT WILLISON on Thursday, February 1, 2018 11:35 AM

SAMUEL C WALKER
Very 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?
 

congressman like us, we buys our tickets and takes our chances.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,022 posts
Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 9:02 PM

Deggesty
Does 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.

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
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 8:25 PM

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

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Sharon, PA
  • 47 posts
Posted by SAMUEL C WALKER on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 8:15 PM
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.
  • Member since
    June 2011
  • 1,002 posts
Posted by NP Eddie on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 6:13 PM

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.

Ed Burns

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,022 posts
Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 6:05 PM

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....

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
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 4:49 PM

Are we sure this wasn't an ISIS inspired Suicide Garbage Attack to strike at the heart of Congress?

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,022 posts
Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 4:45 PM

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..."

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
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 3:59 PM

Degaussing cables were tried in WW2, then they used accoustic homing devices.

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
    June 2011
  • 1,002 posts
Posted by NP Eddie on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 3:38 PM

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

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Cordes Jct Ariz.
  • 1,305 posts
Posted by switch7frg on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 2:40 PM

WinkAs long as trains and other metal objects are magnetic this will happen.  Just make trains anti magnetic.

Y6bs evergreen in my mind

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 2:00 PM

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!!!

SoapBoxSoapBoxSoapBox

 

 

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
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 1:55 PM

tree68
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.

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

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,022 posts
Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 1:37 PM

BaltACD
Double 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.

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
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 1:25 PM

gmpullman
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

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!

              

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 1:16 PM

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

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Southeast Michigan
  • 2,983 posts
Posted by Norm48327 on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 1:07 PM

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? Wink

Norm


  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Sharon, PA
  • 47 posts
Posted by SAMUEL C WALKER on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 12:42 PM
Very 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?
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,892 posts
Posted by wjstix on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 12:28 PM

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

 

 

Stix
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 1,486 posts
Train Carrying Members of Congress Hits Truck
Posted by Victrola1 on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 11:21 AM

(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

An aide confirmed Ryan was on the train and is fine. Separately, a congressman on the train told CNN most of the staff and members on the train are OK...

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy