An exercise in futility

[charlie hebdo]

243129

This letter was sent THREE times via registered mail return receipt requested. After the third time it was ignored I rescinded my offer of confidentiality.

 

file:///E:/Amtrak%20%232/Letter%20to%20Boardman%20.pdf

 

 

Send the same letter,  but under an alias, as to them, anything bearing your name is an automatic circular file candidate.  See if you get a response. 

[BaltACD]

Overmod

 

243129

I would be interested in obtaining Mr. Reaves' resume. 

Which should be available via a FOIA, should it not?

I'd be still more interested in learning Mr. Reaves' criteria for assessing candidates prior to training, and his priorities for training improvement.

In view of the Amtrak's issues has had since this video was originally shot - I would be interested in learning what Mr. Reaves current position, if any, is with Amtrak.

The video references operating on the Interstate system in a motor vehicle for comparative values.  Interstates, for the most part, are adequately marked for successful operation by all motor vehicle operators - consistant with the turning and braking abilities of the vehicles using the system without the need for prior experience in operating over any particular route.

It has been my contention for years, that railroad rights of way are not adequately marked.  Operation over railroad territories REQUIRES prior intimate knowledge of the route for successful operation, as that knowledge is required because of the extended braking distances as well as slack control for the trains being operated. 

If the rights of way were marked in a manner to WARN of upcoming characteristics along the right of way it would be possible for a engineer qualified on 'train operation' to be able to operate successfully on virtually any territory. 

I don't know how detailed the 'approaching territory' screens are on PTC equipped locomotives are on the territories where PTC is in effect - but those screens are a step in identifying to the engineer what is ahead in regard to speed restrictions and signal indications as well as the end of authority when operating in dark territory.   

[243129]

Overmod

I'd be still more interested in learning Mr. Reaves' criteria for assessing candidates prior to training

Would not his resume indicate his qualification to assess candidates for positions in the operating department?

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Overmod

 

243129

I would be interested in obtaining Mr. Reaves' resume.

 

 

Which should be available via a FOIA, should it not?

 

 

It might not be available without a whole bunch of redactions to protect personally identifiable information.

[Overmod]

243129

I would be interested in obtaining Mr. Reaves' resume.

Which should be available via a FOIA, should it not?

I'd be still more interested in learning Mr. Reaves' criteria for assessing candidates prior to training, and his priorities for training improvement.

[243129]

I would be interested in obtaining Mr. Reaves' resume.

[Overmod]

Here is some coverage of the actual Amtrak engineer training facility by a Philadelphia-area station:

This appears to have been cut from what may be a much longer and better-detailed interview and coverage -- including some interviews with trainees and graduates, and details of what things Amtrak looks for in its engineer candidates.

From 1:30 on is particularly ironic if, as the comments indicate, this story was prepared just before the accident with 188...

 

[tree68]

Why would Congress want any ideas on how to improve Amtrak?  A good many of them want to shut it down.

Now, if you were to send a letter detailing how to get rid of Amtrak, I'm sure you'd get a warm reception.

[243129]

This letter was sent THREE times via registered mail return receipt requested. After the third time it was ignored I rescinded my offer of confidentiality.

 

file:///E:/Amtrak%20%232/Letter%20to%20Boardman%20.pdf

 

[Euclid]

Flintlock76

And that's all I'm going to say on that subject.  it's way  OFF TOPIC

Then why say anyting about it? It was only mentioned in a passing reference as an analogy to getting Congress to take action on Amtrak safety.

[Flintlock76]

Gentlemen, I do NOT want to turn this into a gun-control discussion, but if you're going to bring up Sandyhook PLEASE remember where the real blame lies.

Nancy Lanza, the mother of the shooter, who purchased the guns LEGALLY after going through ALL the background checks the state of Connecticutt required, and then stupidly brought them into a home she shared with a mentally disturbed son.  Just as you don't smoke around gasolene common sense tells you it's worse than foolish to bring weapons into a home with a resident who's "Not quite right in the head!"  

Stupid woman!  Well, she paid for it with her life, and the lives of too many others.  I'm not surprised at all the father of Adam Lanza and Adam's brother walked away from the situation in that house, Mom either could not, or would not, admit to herself just how dangerous her son could be.

And that's all I'm going to say on that subject.  it's way 

[Paul of Covington]

243129

However if Congress failed to enact adequate legislation after Sandy Hook, where the victims were young children, and the other mass shootings how can I hope for them to enact adequate legislation to protect the public from Amtrak's dangerous hiring and training procedures?

   Bring lots of money for "campaign contributions."

[Euclid]

243129

 

Euclid

I think there is a fair chance of getting understanding, response, and even action from members of Congress.

 

 

Thank you for the advice and suggestions. However if Congress failed to enact adequate legislation after Sandy Hook, where the victims were young children, and the other mass shootings how can I hope for them to enact adequate legislation to protect the public from Amtrak's dangerous hiring and training procedures?

It seems futile. 

 

With enacting legislation due to Sandy Hook, there is great controversy in that the legislation might disarm people who want to own guns in order to protect themselves from gun violence.  Those people naturally suspect that gun violence is being used as an agenda by people who simply want to cancel the right to own guns. So, even though Sandy Hook is a powerful motivator of change, it naturally invokes a strong pushback to that change.

With improving the safety of Amtrak, there is no strong justification for pushback other than simple resistance to changing the system.  The only thing holding back a transformation in Amtrak safety is Amtrak management culture and the fact that nobody understands the safety problem that Amtrak culture has created. 

You understand it and have even been determined enough to bring it to the attention of Amtrak and Congress.  If you continue that until Congress understands the problem, who is going to push back?  The only one who will is Amtrak.  They will deny the problem exists.  But Amtrak’s boss; Congress and the public, will demand change once you convince them that the problem exists.  They will easily overcome the resistance within Amtrak.

[charlie hebdo]

243129

 

 

Euclid

I think there is a fair chance of getting understanding, response, and even action from members of Congress.

 

 

Thank you for the advice and suggestions. However if Congress failed to enact adequate legislation after Sandy Hook, where the victims were young children, and the other mass shootings how can I hope for them to enact adequate legislation to protect the public from Amtrak's dangerous hiring and training procedures?

It seems futile. 

 

Sadly,  that is true.  60% of the current Senate comes from states representing only 36% of our people.  Mostly Great Plains,  mountains and some of the south.  I share your pessimism and sadness. 

[243129]

Euclid

I think there is a fair chance of getting understanding, response, and even action from members of Congress.

Thank you for the advice and suggestions. However if Congress failed to enact adequate legislation after Sandy Hook, where the victims were young children, and the other mass shootings how can I hope for them to enact adequate legislation to protect the public from Amtrak's dangerous hiring and training procedures?

It seems futile. 

[Euclid]

Thanks Dave.  I think that taking it to congress is fine if it gets the job done.  A lof of foot dragging in Congress could drag out the project for years with no result at all.  I agree that more specificity is needed, along with the developlent of a commanding presentation, and many variations and detail elaborations of that presentation.  If you took that to its fullest measure, it would fill a book.  So why not make it a book for informing everyone including the public and Congress. 

I have found that if you present a neighborhood issue to your City Council, on your own, they feel no fear and they patronize you with no intention of considering your proposal.  So what you do is take the message to your neighbors, and then all of them will go down to the Council meeting with you, and the Council will listen because they feel fear. 

So while Congress has the authority to fix the problem with Amtrak, the public has the ability to push them into action if need be.  And the riders of Amtrak are the natural constituency to absorb the message and take it to their representatives. 

[charlie hebdo]

daveklepper

Euclid:   You make a great deal of sense to me with this posting!

 

 

Yes,  I agree until you got to the book idea.  But contacting key congressional folks (House transportation committee,  chair) with a succinct presentation, not of just the need,  but enough specificity about your plans to be convincing. 

[daveklepper]

Euclid:   You make a great deal of sense to me with this posting!

[Euclid]

243129

 

Flintlock76

And I too have experienced the "wise heads" coming down from "on high" up in corporate where they listen, nod their heads gravely and understandingly, and then leave and don't do a damn thing.

 

 

I call it Amtrak arrogance.

 

Flintlock76

Look man, you tried your best. They won't listen. Forget it. Take up a hobby, fishing, golf, gardening, maybe even model railroading. Enjoy what time God lets you have left on this earth.

 

 

Thank you for the advice and wishes. This is not the single occupier of my time, I do have hobbies, I have toured the entire USA, Canada and two forays in to Mexico on my motorcycle. I have two boats, a 31' Tiara with which I cruise Long Island Sound and a 22' Pursuit with which I fish the Florida Keys, I skied until the age of 68 and this October I am headed to the Copper Canyon by auto as I sold my motorcycle. 

For those of you railfans who are not aware of this venue I understand that the train ride is spectacular.

https://www.coppercanyon.com/index.php/train

So, yes I have plenty to keep me busy and have been enjoying the retirement that my railroad career has afforded me but I will continue to speak out against Amtrak's dangerous hiring and training procedures.

 

 

There are three entities that concerns about Amtrak safety can be presented to:

1. The general public

2. Congress

3. Amtrak

I don’t see any chance of successfully making the case to Amtrak, no matter how many letters are sent to them and who receives them.  They have created the poor safety culture, and they would be the last to recognize or admit that. 

I think there is a fair chance of getting understanding, response, and even action from members of Congress.  I would expect it to require a very large amount of correspondence.  It may result in a successful outcome, but that could take many forms.  I think it would require more research, writing, and presentation.  Developing an organization of people to do this work and presenting a larger voice would be helpful.  I think your message will resonate well if it can be made understandable and convincing.  I was somewhat surprised to see how positive the reception was on Fred Frailey’s blog. 

Just based on that, I think it would get a fairly decent reception with Congress, and especially with the general public.  Amtrak ridership may be only a tiny fraction of the population, but it is still a very large number of people, and I think they would all be very interested in this problem and a proposed solution. 

I don’t think your idea is an exercise in futility.  It may be a huge task, and it may at times seem like nothing is getting done, but it is not futile.  And I don’t think it requires winning friends and influencing people or back slapping.  I think you just need persistence in presenting a very clear and convincing message.  You have the background and the credibility to make your point.  The idea will really just sell itself once it is assimilated by people.  But it can take a lot of effort to get people to listen.  That is marketing.  It needs a stated message and visual aids.  You could make a diagram of how Amtrak trains new hires and how you would change that.  Explain how you would rate job candidates for acumen as it applies to train service, and why acumen matters.  Everybody wants to know the specifics of what you want to change with Amtrak culture.

Another way to approach this is to write a book.  A book makes enough space to completely sort out the argument in the clearest way possible.  A book could reach nearly all of the Amtrak ridership.  They would be a uniquely motivated target audience with their personal allegiance to Amtrak.  They would be instantly sympathetic with the causes of the safety problem embedded in the Amtrak business culture.  The book would tell them to contact Congress, and they would do so.  So Congress would get the message primarily from the public, and then they too would read the book.  Even many people in Amtrak would probably read the book.  

But this cannot be a self-published book.  That won’t go anywhere in terms of sales unless mountains of money are spent in promoting it.  Develop the rough manuscript and take it to a publisher.  I think there would be a lot of interest on their part if the book made your case to a publisher.  If they decided to publish it, they would provide a lot of help to make it happen as a commercial success, including all of the marketing and advertising.  I believe that a campaign that produces the book and also goes to Congress with direct contact would produce real results in making the changes that are necessary. 

[jeffhergert]

Flintlock76

 And send it registered mail with a return receipt attached, so you know they've got it.  

That way Amtrak's legal department can't lie or stonewall, "Well, we never got any letter..."

 

Many years back, an industry outside the railroad industry was renting the old M&StL diesel shop buildings at Marshalltown IA.  GE or EMD, I forget which because both have used the buildings at times over the years, was looking for a place to do warranty work on their line of engines.  The railroad wanted to break the lease to the outside firm and then lease them to whichever builder needed the location back then. 

The outside firm didn't want to leave, wanted to stay for the entire term.  The railroad tried many ways to induce them to leave.  Even to the point that the railroad said it hadn't been receiving the monthly lease payments due.  The firm was able to produce the registered receipts that the railroad had indeed been receiving the payments, even if they hadn't been cashing them.

Eventually, they were able to get them to leave and lease the property to the builder.  I'm guessing a monetary inducement was eventually offered that was too tempting to pass up.  

Jeff 

[Flintlock76]

Paul_D_North_Jr

OP:  Send a copy of your letter to Amtrak's Legal Dept.  That too may not get any action or even a response, but it may make it 'discoverable' in any legal action based on an allegation that Amtrak is at fault in one of those areas ("You are required to produce copies of any documents relating to Amtrak's training and compliance with operating rules . . . ").  That may take years - many good things do - but there are some examples of the havoc that wreaks when the facts finally come out (ask the Catholic Church about the priest abuse cases when they came to light . . .  ).

- PDN. 

 

And send it registered mail with a return receipt attached, so you know they've got it.  

That way Amtrak's legal department can't lie or stonewall, "Well, we never got any letter..."

[Flintlock76]

Backshop

Politicians start unnecessary wars, what's a lousy train accident to them?

 

You're not kidding.  Look at all the young people, the best young people we have, sacrificed over the years for the State Department's regime change experiments. 

I don't agree with too many Democrats on anything, but Tulsi Gabbard's spot on with that one!  No more!  Enough!

[Backshop]

Politicians start unnecessary wars, what's a lousy train accident to them?

[BaltACD]

243129

 

tree68

You must remember that there are politicians who would love to see Amtrak die. 

This is not about Amtrak dying it is about people dying. 

tree68

If a disaster is what it will take, they aren't about to take action to prevent that disaster. 

So you are of the opinion that politicians would sacrifice human lives to achieve their agenda which is to 'kill' Amtrak???

Have I interpreted your statement correctly?

Politicians will sacriface anything - we are seeing it in every news cycle.  Thoughts and prayers!

[243129]

tree68

You must remember that there are politicians who would love to see Amtrak die.

This is not about Amtrak dying it is about people dying.

tree68

If a disaster is what it will take, they aren't about to take action to prevent that disaster.

So you are of the opinion that politicians would sacrifice human lives to achieve their agenda which is to 'kill' Amtrak???

Have I interpreted your statement correctly?

[tree68]

243129

I have appealed to various politicians to no avail. I will however 'trot out' my warning missives after the next disaster occurs. I can only hope someone sees and understands them and takes action.

You must remember that there are politicians who would love to see Amtrak die.  If a disaster is what it will take, they aren't about to take action to prevent that disaster.

They aren't going to fix something they don't want to exist in the first place.

[243129]

Backshop

Maybe get a few of your fellow vetern employees together and talk to a few local congressmen.  Try to get the union involved, also.

 

I have appealed to various politicians to no avail. I will however 'trot out' my warning missives after the next disaster occurs. I can only hope someone sees and understands them and takes action.

[Backshop]

Maybe get a few of your fellow vetern employees together and talk to a few local congressmen.  Try to get the union involved, also.

[243129]

243129

Perhaps this can clarify and answer some of the questions that have been asked.

http://cs.trains.com/trn/b/fred-frailey/archive/2015/08/11/the-making-of-engineers-and-conductors.aspx

 

My attempt to help mitigate/eliminate Amtrak's human error disasters is 'out there' as is their refusal to avail themselves of the experience of their veteran employees.

 As stated previously, 'Amtrak is an accident waiting to happen... again' and when it does I will publicize, again, Amtrak's refusal to heed the warnings that I and my fellow veteran employees have sounded. Perhaps one day someone somewhere will see the wisdom of Amtrak availing themselves of the experience of their veteran employees.

[Cotton Belt MP104]

If writing a book will help with someone paying attention......doubt it.....

The recent online Trains newsletter advertises a book that seems to be a good descriptor of the problems that exist.  

Railroad Collisions, by George Swimmer, CPA.                       endmrw0806191115