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Empire Builder is on the ground in Montana with three dead and 50 injured

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  • Member since
    May 2004
  • 7,500 posts
Posted by 7j43k on Sunday, September 26, 2021 4:36 PM

diningcar

Many freight trains were going over this tangent track just prior to the Amtrak. Lets not be so quick to establish 'rail fan judgement'. There will be a thorough investigation, perhaps sabotage even give the currrent political climate.  

 

 

What is "rail fan judgement"?  

 

 

Ed

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • 7,500 posts
Posted by 7j43k on Sunday, September 26, 2021 4:26 PM

jeffhergert
  

There are three cars, detached from the rest of the train, on their sides before the switch.

Jeff

 

 

When cars derail, as some/all of the ones ahead of the three cars did, they both slow dramatically and become misaligned with the track.  Following cars can affected by this.

The following cars "run into" the earlier cars.

 

I find it interesting that the event happened either at, or very near, a track switch.  It IS certainly possible that it had nothing to do with the switch, and it's a big coincidence that it happened there.

 

Ed

 

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Central Iowa
  • 6,901 posts
Posted by jeffhergert on Sunday, September 26, 2021 3:46 PM

7j43k

 

 

 
Flintlock76

Yes, I saw it this morning. Tragic.  Unfortunately it'll be days before we know the cause.

 

 

 

 

Pretty sure it involves a track switch underneath the train.

 

 

Ed

 

There are three cars, detached from the rest of the train, on their sides before the switch.

Jeff

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • 1,754 posts
Posted by diningcar on Sunday, September 26, 2021 3:27 PM

Many freight trains were going over this tangent track just prior to the Amtrak. Lets not be so quick to establish 'rail fan judgement'. There will be a thorough investigation, perhaps sabotage even give the currrent political climate.  

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • 7,500 posts
Posted by 7j43k on Sunday, September 26, 2021 11:06 AM

Flintlock76

Yes, I saw it this morning. Tragic.  Unfortunately it'll be days before we know the cause.

 

 

Pretty sure it involves a track switch underneath the train.

 

 

Ed

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Sunday, September 26, 2021 10:42 AM

Yes, I saw it this morning. Tragic.  Unfortunately it'll be days before we know the cause.

  • Member since
    July 2015
  • 52 posts
Empire Builder is on the ground in Montana with three dead and 50 injured
Posted by Goodtiming on Sunday, September 26, 2021 10:34 AM

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