Passenger train's collisions with vehicles.

[BaltACD]

http://www.wafb.com/story/30457971/amtrak-train-carrying-lsu-fans-crashes-in-alabama

[schlimm]

Why not simply improve the safety of crossings?  Look and see how some other countries handle level crossings with fewer accidents rather than the same old routine.  What's wrong with that?

[Deggesty]

blue streak 1

Unconfirmed report CHI - Michigan train hit a vehicle some where aroundMichigan city.  A details.  If these collisions continue Amtrak will not be able to have enough locos to run their schedules.

 

 

Perhaps Amtrak should sue the persons or the estates of persons who cause damage to Amtrak's property? And, ask for recompense for the lost revenue?

[blue streak 1]

Unconfirmed report CHI - Michigan train hit a vehicle some where aroundMichigan city.  A details.  If these collisions continue Amtrak will not be able to have enough locos to run their schedules.

 

[JC UPTON]

Deggesty

From the time of the original report (2:38 this afternoon), it may have been the northbound train, #58, running a little late.

 

 

Yes, local newspaper reported that it was Norhtbound; the Southbound had already passed...

Some engine damage, requiring a replacement to be sent from New Orleans.....

 

http://theadvocate.com/news/police/13878283-125/amtrak-train-collides-with-18-wheeler

[Deggesty]

From the time of the original report (2:38 this afternoon), it may have been the northbound train, #58, running a little late.

[Paul of Covington]

   Here's another one.   I'm a bit familiar with this area.   The crossing is an entrance to a small industrial park-like area.

http://www.fox8live.com/story/30426997/amtrak-train-collides-with-18-wheeler-near-ponchatoula

[blue streak 1]

Southbound Starlight hits pickumup truck norht of Sacremento.  Driver did not survive.

http://www.kcra.com/news/local-news/news-sacramento/1-killed-when-train-vehicle-crash-in-sutter-county/36009918

 

[BaltACD]

Deggesty

ACY

I suspect it would help to find a way to discourage earbud use by anybody who is on the R-O-W or crossing it.  Maybe pass some kind of law to that effect, but I'm not so naive that I think passing such a law means it will be complied with. Maybe that kind of law already exists.  If so, we see how much good it's doing. It seems that most of these accidents can be attributed to earbuds, inattention, and ignoring signals & gates.  I'm at a loss as to how to change these behaviors.

Tom

Tom, considering the number of people who think that the belts and straps in cars and trucks that are intended to reduce fatalities and injuries are of no value, and the people who cannot comprehend that the purpose of crossing gates is to protect the public from contact with trains--no matter how many times they have been told that such are for their protection, how can you best describe such people? It seems that they refuse to learn.

In my daily walks around the neighborhood, I am amazed by all the people that think to do anything outside they need to be connected to their I-pad or other devices.  Brain dead to the actual world around them.

[Deggesty]

ACY

I suspect it would help to find a way to discourage earbud use by anybody who is on the R-O-W or crossing it.  Maybe pass some kind of law to that effect, but I'm not so naive that I think passing such a law means it will be complied with. Maybe that kind of law already exists.  If so, we see how much good it's doing. It seems that most of these accidents can be attributed to earbuds, inattention, and ignoring signals & gates.  I'm at a loss as to how to change these behaviors.

Tom

 

Tom, considering the number of people who think that the belts and straps in cars and trucks that are intended to reduce fatalities and injuries are of no value, and the people who cannot comprehend that the purpose of crossing gates is to protect the public from contact with trains--no matter how many times they have been told that such are for their protection, how can you best describe such people? It seems that they refuse to learn.

[ACY Tom]

I suspect it would help to find a way to discourage earbud use by anybody who is on the R-O-W or crossing it.  Maybe pass some kind of law to that effect, but I'm not so naive that I think passing such a law means it will be complied with. Maybe that kind of law already exists.  If so, we see how much good it's doing. It seems that most of these accidents can be attributed to earbuds, inattention, and ignoring signals & gates.  I'm at a loss as to how to change these behaviors.

Tom

[schlimm]

Sunnyland

as a friend always says "you can't fix stupid".

So is total resignation and doing nothing the answer?   Are Americans so different (more stupid) than people elsewhere where crossing incidents are more infrequent?  Sorry, but I don't think so.  I know empirically that Americans are at least as intelligent as people in other nations.  So the answers to this problem will be found, but not by merely blaming the victims (or "Darwin Award winners, since some on here have repeatedly refused to see the drivers or pedestrians killed and injured as victims).

[Sunnyland]

This is getting far too common, sad to say. And people getting hit by trains when they are trespassing by walking on ROW.  OL tries to get the word out, but as a friend always says "you can't fix stupid".   People don't seem to understand that a train and a car should never be in the same place at the same time.   Have a friend who is retired BNSF engineer and has been involved in collisions where people have died.  He said he can't let it bother him, he's where he's supposed to be and they are not.  

[schlimm]

What sort of gating seems to be involved in all these crossing accidents?  How much time from lowering of gates to the train reaching the crossing?

[JC UPTON]

 

As I read the web article, all I could tell was that it was Eastbound from California.  This portion of the route is shared by The SW Chief, The California Zephyr & The Illinois Zephyr

 

 

 

From:

http://www.wspynews.com/news/local/truck-driver-involved-in-amtrak-accident-near-somonauk-knocked-down/article_19545816-729d-11e5-b72f-0bfa9e92bef9.html

"Around 3:00 p.m., the rear of Barthel's truck was struck by an eastbound Amtrak train just west of Somonauk at the County Line Rd. crossing at Route 34.  ....

One person on the train was injured and taken to Valley West Hospital in Sandwich.  175 people were on the Amtrak train bound for Chicago from California. "

 

 

[Deggesty]

The second link gave the information that it was the Chicago to Emeryville train.

[blue streak 1]

JC UPTON

 1.  Does anyone know if this was the SW Chief, or the Zypher?

2.  Since Amrtrak struck the trailing edge of the trailer, maybe the truck was the one with the "Bulls Eye"?                                                        

From the media link, the location (? 41°37'48.79"N   88°42'22.11"W ?) appears to be one where there is not a lot of room between the double track and the road intersection (about 72 feet)...  So if waiting for traffic to clear, tail end overhangs the track...?

 

 

Was train #6

Trailers are painting bulls eyes for Amtrak to hit.

Another case of trying to transport on the cheap.  Two incidents within 4 hours no excuse.  Where was the escourt ?  If a policeman had been along the intersection could have been cleared before trying to cross the rail line.  This is similar to the Carolinian hitting a monster load.  As we say in the airplane business.   "  Lack of pre flight planning "

 

Although hate to say it may be time for US DOT to regulate oversize loads of any kind.  Just like airlines make up a pre trip plan and keep one copy for 6 months signed sealed by dispatcher and driver.  Lack of one for any trip same $50,000 fine as FAA has.

   

[JC UPTON]

blue streak 1

 

blue streak 1

Another  Amtrak collision with oversized load.  This one was an extra heavy TT but just clipped end of trailer. Could have been much worse. Are the oversize / overweight loads have a bulls eye on Amtrak locos ?

http://patch.com/illinois/lakeview/1-injured-when-amtrak-train-strikes-semi-somonauk-reports

 

1.  Does anyone know if this was the SW Chief, or the Zypher?

2.  Since Amrtrak struck the trailing edge of the trailer, maybe the truck was the one with the "Bulls Eye"?                                                        

From the media link, the location (? 41°37'48.79"N   88°42'22.11"W ?) appears to be one where there is not a lot of room between the double track and the road intersection (about 72 feet)...  So if waiting for traffic to clear, tail end overhangs the track...?

[blue streak 1]

blue streak 1

Another  Amtrak collision with oversized load.  This one was an extra heavy TT but just clipped end of trailer. Could have been much worse. Are the oversize / overweight loads have a bulls eye on Amtrak locos ?

http://patch.com/illinois/lakeview/1-injured-when-amtrak-train-strikes-semi-somonauk-reports

It now appears that this driver was involved in another incident shortly before Amtrak hit him.  This driver should be   ?????

http://www.wspynews.com/news/local/truck-driver-involved-in-amtrak-accident-near-somonauk-knocked-down/article_19545816-729d-11e5-b72f-0bfa9e92bef9.html

 

 

[ACY Tom]

One recent collision has been overlooked.  This information comes from conventional news sources, plus a conversation with a passenger on the train. On October 8, the northbound Amtrak Crescent Limited struck a Ford F-150, killing the woman who was driving the truck, in the vicinity of Leeds and Moody, Alabama.   The passenger told me a school bus was evidently stopped for the passage of a freight train.  When the last car of the freight train passed, the woman drove around the bus and around the gates, only to be struck by the passenger train.  News reports indicate the gates and flashers were operating properly.  I understand the school bus had no children aboard to see this.

Tom 

[blue streak 1]

Another  Amtrak collision with oversized load.  This one was an extra heavy TT but just clipped end of trailer. Could have been much worse. Are the oversize / overweight loads have a bulls eye on Amtrak locos ?

http://patch.com/illinois/lakeview/1-injured-when-amtrak-train-strikes-semi-somonauk-reports

 

 

[blue streak 1]

This is almost an incredible happening. Even writers would have a hard time making this up. .  How does an Amtrak train hit a truck pulling a watercraft and the truck hits a raft in the water that a woman is riding on ? ( sunbathing ? ).  By the way driver and woman in critical condition. 

http://www.contracostatimes.com/breaking-news/ci_28675798/brentwood-2-severely-injured-after-train-collides-truck

 

 

[blue streak 1]

Caltrain got vehicle but the sheriff pulled driver out of car at last moment.  Note: Caltrain fatalitys up to 16 this year.  ( auto and tresspassers )

http://www.ktvu.com/story/29701263/deputy-pulls-driver-to-safety-moments-before-caltrain-crash

 

 

[BaltACD]

blue streak 1

One that did not happen but you cannot make these things up.  A runaway car ( unmaned ) goes down embankment and fouls Keystone line.  CAT has to be shut off so tow truc can extricate car.

http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/update-amtrak-trains-still-being-held-up-after-runaway-car/article_fae49268-394b-11e5-a2f6-5be55e5785bd.html

Around Lancaster, it could have been a Amish horse and buggy!

[blue streak 1]

One that did not happen but you cannot make these things up.  A runaway car ( unmaned ) goes down embankment and fouls Keystone line.  CAT has to be shut off so tow truc can extricate car.

http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/update-amtrak-trains-still-being-held-up-after-runaway-car/article_fae49268-394b-11e5-a2f6-5be55e5785bd.html

 

 

[BaltACD]

blue streak 1

MARC trrain hits MARC hi-rail.  From the following news item the HI-rail might have been getting on track before time allowed ? Balt ?

http://wtop.com/sprawl-crawl/2015/07/marcs-brunswick-line-suspended/slide/1/

The hi-rail was operating within a MofW defined work zone (707 in CSX terminology) and was in the process of getting off the track - Blocking had been provided for the track the hi-rail was operating on, with the understanding that the other track was 'hot'.  What the operator of the hi-rail was thinking?????

[blue streak 1]

MARC trrain hits MARC hi-rail.  From the following news item the HI-rail might have been getting on track before time allowed ? Balt ?

http://wtop.com/sprawl-crawl/2015/07/marcs-brunswick-line-suspended/slide/1/

 

 

[blue streak 1]

Sun Rail hit auto running around gate near Sanford. Not hurt but ticketed.

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/sunrail-train-crashes-into-car-in-sanford/33829168

 

 

[tomikawaTT]

MikeF90

 

OTOH You Can't Fix Stupid (thank you, Ron White). This clueless SUV driver plowed into the back of a haz-mat tanker truck stopped at a four lane road crossing (used by the Coast Starlight), fortunately no ensuing fireball. Guess she skipped lane changing class in driver ed.

Approaching a place where you will probably have to stop or maneuver is NOT where you should diddle with temperature controls on an unfamiliar vehicle!  I wonder how much damage was done to the propane hauler.

Notice that the ODOT considers one or fewer crunched cars per year to be an acceptable risk - no additional action needed.  (Except for a brain enhancement for Madame Clueless...)

Chuck

[MikeF90]

tomikawaTT

Grade separation, like everything else, requires a cost-benefit analysis.

Agree here and with your post elsewhere that some math-challenged groups consider c-b-a a four letter word.

OTOH You Can't Fix Stupid (thank you, Ron White). This clueless SUV driver plowed into the back of a haz-mat tanker truck stopped at a four lane road crossing (used by the Coast Starlight), fortunately no ensuing fireball. Guess she skipped lane changing class in driver ed.