From KABC-7 Los Angeles:
https://abc7.com/officials-engineer-tried-to-smash-train-into-usns-mercy/6069395/
Weirdest train story in a long time. What the heck? Fortunate that is was unsuccessful.
Looking at the story, it sounds like the engineer could had been of the ilk that believed in the "white boxcars with shackles" story.
Just sayin'.
I am VERY suprised that they did not charge him with domestic terrorism. He deserves to be locked up in ADX Florence for the rest of his life.
Gee, what's the date today?
The charges are probably going to be escalated especially since 1st we are in a national emergency. 2 nd the port is a vital component of commerce and lastly he was trying to damage a freaking hospital ship ordered there by the President. This guy will be lucky to see daylight again as a free man.
The fact he thought he coudl get close to it with his engine? Really, these things don't do well once you leave the rails.
Maybe he was smoking those big complimentary cigars the railroad supplied in the red box in the cab?
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
What Next????
zugmann The fact he thought he coudl get close to it with his engine? Really, these things don't do well once you leave the rails. Maybe he was smoking those big complimentary cigars the railroad supplied in the red box in the cab?
Johnny
DeggestyCigars? Are you sure they are not dynamite? That's what a little boy who looked in the flagman's supply that was fastened to the gate at the rear of a passenger car thought he saw.
Years ago, we had to watch a cheesy company safety video about "terrorism and YOU!" or some such...
Every scene was of a pile of fusees taped together.
And yes, there have been people that have called the police because some poor conductor left a pile of fusees on a car after switching an industry or similar.
Convicted One Gee, what's the date today?
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
I believe that the event actually happened, it's featured at the LA Times' website as well.
I just don't believe that the engineer is being sincere about his motives.
The article states that an "engineer" did this. Now if the operator was just some whack job off the street, who seized control of an unattended engine then I might accept the story at face value. But I can't imagine an experienced engineer believing he could make the entire distance.
There are some stories in nature where a virus actually takes control of the hosts mind to make the host behave in ways conducive to the virus' life cycle.......so MAYBE the virus didn't know that the engine couldn't travel that far. But until we test the engineer for the virus (as well as other well known compounds) I really think we are not going to get the whole story here.
All this happened yesterday. Getting weirder by the minute.
My first thought was April Fools. But if it's a joke, they sure fooled the news people!
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/04/01/san-pedro-engineer-suspected-of-intentionally-derailing-train-near-usns-mercy/
https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/engineer-allegedly-crash-train-usns-mercy-los-angeles/story?id=69926172
York1 John
It is quite a distance!
End of Steel.
Thank You.
So, does an engineer lose his license for something like this? You know- not being in control of his train or some such?
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
Wouldn't that be a clincher? If spontaneous dementia ended up being a symptom of the Covid-19 disease?
Maybe this whack job thought "The Flying Diesel Corps" was still recruiting?
http://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/topic/flying-diesel-corps
Convicted OneBut I can't imagine an experienced engineer believing he could make the entire distance.
Passion is a funny thing...
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...
Convicted One Wouldn't that be a clincher? If spontaneous dementia ended up being a symptom of the Covid-19 disease?
I would suppose that "The Engineer" was more like, under the influence.. Sounds like his 'recreational pharmacuiticals had ganged up on him and then run amok.
I'd like to be 'a fly on the wall' when that engineer has a meeting with his supervisor...How will his 'Business Agent' explain that one away?
What is the locomotive involved?
It looks like it started life as a GP40 or GP40-2.
It doesn't have dynamic brakes but has a box like an enlarged air box cover over the engine. I assume, this being California that it has been re-engined with a low emissions engine...
Peter
ChuckCobleighLooking at the story, it sounds like the engineer could had been of the ilk that believed in the "white boxcars with shackles" story. Just sayin'.
Definately several cars without markers short of a train!
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
M636C-- Started life as Boston and Maine GP38 #254.
Rebuilt by MPI into something called a MP20B-3.
MP20Bs are 4 axle 38/40 series EMDs reeninged with the MTU 12V4000 by MPI.
PHL has a lot more MP20Cs.
UP also has a few MP20Bs, one of which resides in Portland. I've seen it in service, but don't know how well it is liked.
Miningman M636C-- Started life as Boston and Maine GP38 #254. Rebuilt by MPI into something called a MP20B-3.
SSW9389 Miningman M636C-- Started life as Boston and Maine GP38 #254. Rebuilt by MPI into something called a MP20B-3. Almost, but not quite, this unit traces back to Maine Central #254. It was originally built by EMD as serial #32663 on order #7246.
The locomotive engineer made several wierd statements to the FBI and press about various issues. I wonder what Pacific Harbor Belt Railroad is thinking now about it's employee screening.
LensCapOn SSW9389 Miningman M636C-- Started life as Boston and Maine GP38 #254. Rebuilt by MPI into something called a MP20B-3. The loco is a Motive Power Industries MP20B-3. (because I'm a train nut, that's why) . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPI_MP20B
SSW9389 Miningman M636C-- Started life as Boston and Maine GP38 #254. Rebuilt by MPI into something called a MP20B-3.
The loco is a Motive Power Industries MP20B-3. (because I'm a train nut, that's why) . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPI_MP20B
Because I was curious, as well:
Here is a C&P from the Wikidedia link provided above:
The MPI MP20B is a diesel-electric locomotive designed and built by MotivePower in Boise, Idaho.
"...It has a 2,000 hp (1,490 kW) MTU-Detroit Diesel 12V4000 Engine. It weighs approximately 277,000 lb and is 59 ft 2 in long. It has a maximum speed of 70 mph (113 km/h). It also includes a B-B wheel arrangement and an optional dynamic brake. It includes a continuous tractive effort of 55,000 lbf (240,000 N) and a starting tractive effort of 85,000 lbf (380,000 N).[1]..."
Strange behavior for an Engineer; who was apparently a union member, and a 'normal' employee(?) Hopefully, the first thing the company did after the incident was a drug screen...and then a psych exam!
And for those of you who are engine nuts (and not interested in a long deep dive to figure out that MTU is now a Rolls-Royce company, like Allison):
https://www.mtu-solutions.com/na/en/applications/rail/locomotive-solutions.html
These engines appear to be 'off' most railfans' radar. Note that Pacific Harbor Lines was also an early adopter and one of the principal users of Caterpillar re-engined locomotives. The 4000 series was introduced at the end of the '90s and received a substantial upgrade circa 2007; interestingly enough the one in the locomotive in question was manufactured here, in Aiken SC.
I believe these are related to the Maybach engines that, for example, are in the reconstructed Krauss-Maffei -- the branding switch from Maybach to MTU for the high-speed engines in this range did not take place long before introduction of the 4000 series.
For tech fiends, the engines use a modified Miller cycle, the common-rail injectors are independently addressable (so cylinder-interruption management is possible) and pilot, main, and afterinjection can be independently modulated for an optimized mix of power and emissions.
White ships, black helicopters...it's all the same...
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