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Amtrak Train May Have Been Struck Before It Derailed, Officials Say
New Yoirk Times ^ | May 15, 2015 | DAVE PHILIPPS and EMMA G. FITZSIMMONS

Posted on 05/15/2015 4:20:44 PM PDT by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: amtrak; amtrakinvestigation; derailment; philadelphia; train; trainwreck
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To: MeshugeMikey
Looking at that map, how far would the train have had to travel to accelerate to 106 and brake to 102 MPH before derailing? Would the incident (if there was one) have occurred in the vicinity of the other incidents or further down the track, and when would it have occurred in relation to the other incidents, time wise.

If an object hit the train, it would have to be pretty heavy to damage the windshield (or fast), and would likely be dropped or thrown from some higher access point like an overpass or pedestrian overpass. While that may not be absolutely necessary, it would provide a miscreant a better opportunity to escape the environs on foot or by vehicle.

Knowing if such structures were the launch points would tie in the M.O. of the person or persons throwing projectiles, and whether or not they were likely involved in any alleged incident with the Amtrack train.

That said, I have retained control of vehicles with a windshield rendered opaque with a variety of substances, including deer intestines and contents, while coping with the airbag the critter set off while destroying my radiator at 65 MPH, at night, winding the window down and not leaving my lane while slowing the vehicle and coming to a safe stop despite a poorly graded shoulder and opposing truck traffic (two lane road).

I would think the engineer would have had ample time to correct any error in throttle position, and should have at least noticed the train was accelerating.

Something here does, indeed, stink.

My hunch is that there are those who figure if the accident can be blamed on unknown persons throwing objects at the train, the mantle of liability will ride a lot lighter on the rail line versus a situation in which negligence or an overt act by the crew caused the derailment.

Money money money money....follow it.

361 posted on 05/19/2015 1:20:55 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing.)
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To: Paladin2
Loco likely grazed a catenary support pole on the right side of the loco as it was leaving the tracks.

Would that tear loose insulators or cable couplings which might have damaged the windshield?

362 posted on 05/19/2015 2:08:42 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing.)
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To: StAnDeliver
Sumwalt said Thursday that the train was traveling above 70 mph at 65 seconds before impact. At 43 seconds before impact, it exceeded 80 mph. At 31 seconds, it had increased to 90 mph. Sixteen seconds before impact, it topped 100."

Just doing the math on that, would leave 16 seconds (.267 minutes) at 100 MPH, 15 seconds at 95 MPH (.25 minutes), 12 seconds at 85 MPH (.20 minutes), and 22 seconds at 75 MPH (.367 minutes), for respective distances of 1349 ft., 2090 ft., 1496 ft., and 2422 ft., which would put the start of acceleration roughly 8,357 ft. up the track from the point of derailment (plus a little farther for exceeding 100). --Just under 1.6 miles back from the point of derailment.

Now, the question arises of whether that falls within the area where the other trains were hit by objects, or whether it just doesn't fit.

363 posted on 05/19/2015 2:24:25 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing.)
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To: Smokin' Joe

I shall endeavor to “follow the money” yes.


364 posted on 05/19/2015 5:54:26 AM PDT by MeshugeMikey ("Never, Never, Never, Give Up," Winston Churchill ><>)
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To: MeshugeMikey

It was struck on stupid! (The engineer going 106 mph into a 50 mph curve...)


365 posted on 05/20/2015 8:16:35 AM PDT by b4its2late (A Liberal is a person who will give away everything he doesn't own.)
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To: b4its2late

the best wrap up....I have read!!


366 posted on 05/20/2015 8:33:51 AM PDT by MeshugeMikey ("Never, Never, Never, Give Up," Winston Churchill ><>)
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To: MeshugeMikey
RUMOR has it that the camera’s had been installed six months ago...but there was a complicated wating period..as per the FCC.REGULATIONS...before they could be “activated”....

The FCC issue was for electronic safety systems that could help prevent accidents (going too fast, wrong track, etc...). Not cameras.

https://www.fcc.gov/document/wireless-telecommunications-bureau-seeks-comment-spectrum-needs-implementation-positive-tra

367 posted on 05/28/2015 1:04:52 PM PDT by IYAS9YAS (Has anyone seen my tagline? It was here yesterday. I seem to have misplaced it.)
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To: IYAS9YAS

Thank you.

We still haven’t heard the outcome of the investigation as per Operator Error have we....


368 posted on 05/28/2015 2:18:46 PM PDT by MeshugeMikey ("Never, Never, Never, Give Up," Winston Churchill ><>)
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To: MeshugeMikey

.
It was struck by a missile traveling at 1000 MPH, and it was all the engineer could do stomp on the brakes.
.


369 posted on 05/28/2015 2:22:04 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: MeshugeMikey

.
He wasn’t distracted, his full attention was on his tool!
.


370 posted on 05/28/2015 2:23:37 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: MeshugeMikey
We still haven’t heard the outcome of the investigation as per Operator Error have we....

I doubt we'd hear of it if it turned out to be the case.

I still think it was an attempt to make headlines like the Germanwings co-pilot, but point the finger at safety issues while committing murder/suicide because he was nuts. Only the suicide didn't work out properly.

371 posted on 05/28/2015 2:34:46 PM PDT by IYAS9YAS (Has anyone seen my tagline? It was here yesterday. I seem to have misplaced it.)
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To: IYAS9YAS

Failed suicides are not often fodder for headlines,..nope.


372 posted on 05/28/2015 2:42:36 PM PDT by MeshugeMikey ("Never, Never, Never, Give Up," Winston Churchill ><>)
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To: editor-surveyor

whoppeeee.....

somewhat like Bernie Sanders I guess...


373 posted on 05/28/2015 2:43:12 PM PDT by MeshugeMikey ("Never, Never, Never, Give Up," Winston Churchill ><>)
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To: editor-surveyor

“Im not sayin it was aliens...but “it was aliens”


374 posted on 05/28/2015 2:43:56 PM PDT by MeshugeMikey ("Never, Never, Never, Give Up," Winston Churchill ><>)
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To: Born to Conserve
Random implies even.

Random in no way implies even, nor does even imply random. They are not interchangeable. Would you use "randomly spaced" if poles were placed at 100' intervals along a path, or "evenly spaced"? Would you use "evenly spaced" if poles were spaced at anything between 1' and 100' intervals along a path, or would you use "randomly spaced"?

375 posted on 05/28/2015 3:20:06 PM PDT by IYAS9YAS (Has anyone seen my tagline? It was here yesterday. I seem to have misplaced it.)
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