Amtrak Train May Have Been Struck Before It Derailed, Officials Say

New Yoirk Times ^ | May 15, 2015 | DAVE PHILIPPS and EMMA G. FITZSIMMONS

[MeshugeMikey]

PHILADELPHIA — An assistant conductor on the Amtrak train that derailed on Tuesday believes she heard the engineer tell another regional train operator in a radio transmission that the train had been struck by something just before the accident, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

At a news conference on Friday, Robert L. Sumwalt, the safety board official who is leading the investigation, said the F.B.I. had been asked to examine what he described as a fist-size impact area found on the lower left side of the train’s windshield. Officials said that the F.B.I. had been called in because it has the forensics expertise needed for the investigation, but that it had not yet begun its analysis.

[Theoria]

I see, that clarifies it. But it is the same track. So odd, three trains, three issues.

[cookcounty]

But the point of projectile impact and the point of derailment could be some distance apart.

They are speaking of an impact on the locomotive that may have affected the throttle controls, which caused acceleration, which then caused derailment at the next turn, some miles later.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Could he have freaked hearing dispatch talking of other hits and booked it to get outta there? Still negligent if that is the case.

[MeshugeMikey]

I believe the map showed the approximate points of impact. Three trains...hit at 3 different locations

may the management forgive me if this is spamming the thread with this map.

another day anohter detailement Large train derailment closes southbound 281 in Pleasanton, south of San Antonio

BY MARK D. WILSON : MAY 15, 2015 : Updated: May 15, 2015 4:54pm

[MeshugeMikey]

thats a distinct possibilty

panic often overides common sense..particularly in those whose common sense.... may not be used to getting much... exercise...ahem

[Cementjungle]

I rode those trains in/around Phila for 25 years, and getting rocks and stuff tossed at you (train) is quite normal. Now, on the other hand, if there had been gunfire... and if bullets had hit the train and/or the engineer, I would think the NTSB with all their expertise would be able to see evidence of that. Why they need to call in the FBI to examine the cracked windshield is beyond me... the NTSB should be able to tell the difference between a bullet hole and a brick hole and a rock hole.

I think they should go with the climate change angle. Warming temps might have warped the rails in such a way as to have caused speed anomalies with the train.

[PA Engineer]

What’s your take?

I'm still on the fence, however I believe the media is throwing out a lot of disinformation.

We'll have to see what the "FBI Investigation" determines, however I'm leaning at this point to damaged glass from the derailment.

That engine plowed a very deep and long trench across the rail yard. It took out ballast, concrete ties, rails and who knows what else. Sheet metal on the engine was also torn away below the glass.

I think they are just doing a complete investigation at this time. I just hope the conclusion are not politically motivated.

[MeshugeMikey]

It may have been George Bush...his powerful juju..and THE JOOS that warped the tracks....

[Publius]

I just hope the conclusion are not politically motivated.

Concur. But if ISIS is in North Philadelphia, somehow I doubt they'd tell us.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Well, we know he had plenty of ‘joystick’ practice....that’s a certain.

[MeshugeMikey]

exactly.

Id suspect from what Ive read about that general neighborhood in this thread that “extra curricular” activity of a likely illegal nature...might not have raised many eyebrows if any, in the locations of “impact”

[MeshugeMikey]

he was a joystick boy alright

[Publius]

Gunfire is quite normal in North Philly. Sometimes it even comes from the police.

[MeshugeMikey]

ahahaha yet another lovely urban location I wont be visiting

[MeshugeMikey]

ahahaha yet another lovely urban location I wont be visiting

[Publius]

Make sure you stay off the Broad Street subway north of Girard Ave.

[Ez2BRepub]

Look at that diagram of the route with speed limits. Notice that just beyond the curve is an area where trains accelerate to 100 MPH. Could the engineer have become distracted (maybe from whatever struck the train) and mistakenly thought he was beyond the curve? He started to accelerate, then realizing his mistake, panicked and pulled on the brake?

Dispatch controls signals/train movements for a certain segment of trackage. The Amtrak Engineer would be controlled by those signals, showing him how he was to proceed. If he saw a clear signal(green) that allowed for him to proceed at max speed (100mph), towards the curve, then it would be an error by the dispatcher, giving him the wrong signal. I would think, however, since he was familiar with the route, that he would have been aware of his surroundings and realized it was to high of a speed for his location and contacted dispatch to verify the signal.

On the other hand, if the Amtrak Engineer read the signal wrong, then it would be an error on his part. Instead of the signal being for a clear(green) for max speed(100mph), it could have been a clear(green), for the slowest speed. Meaning he could proceed, not exceding the speed for that section of track(50mph), at the curve. Just like above, however, he should have known his surroundings and realized something was wrong, speed-wise.

If he was distracted or just complacent, any of the two scenarios above are plausible explanations for the acceleration then emergency braking at the curve.

[MeshugeMikey]

HOLD EVERYTHANG

FBI say ‘no indication of terror’ as investigators and NTSB go-team are dispatched to probe causes of crash

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3079182/NTSB-set-send-team-investigate-Tuesday-s-Amtrak-train-crash-Philadelphia.html#ixzz3aGJkb62k

tjere it is..NO INDICATION of terror...posted on the 12th

they knew that beore even looking at the windshield[s]

i used the covert PLURAL...... as no mention.... as far I Am Aware.... has been made of the windshields on the other trains being examined....or there being any PLANS to ...examine them

[Publius]

They may not mention it, but somebody is going to look at the other trains. It may be the Philly PD, but somebody is going to look.

[MeshugeMikey]

Girard just sounds so ...well.... URBAN.....in a “modern” sense