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SEPTA Engineer Saw ‘Trespasser’ On Tracks Moments Before Train Was Hit By Object
http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/ ^ | May 19, 2015

Posted on 05/19/2015 9:05:06 AM PDT by Abby4116

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A transit train driver says he saw a “trespasser” on the tracks moments before an unknown object struck a window on the train.

The SEPTA train was struck on the same night and in close proximity to the Amtrak train that derailed on May 12th in Philadelphia.

According to SEPTA officials, the engineer saw a trespasser on the track moments before an unidentified object smashed a window.

(Excerpt) Read more at philadelphia.cbslocal.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: amtrak; train; trainwreck
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To: Abby4116

I heard this morning that they are now saying that the audio recordings and verbal discussions heard on them do NOT make mention nor any reference to anything striking the train.

So, if someone shot at or threw something through your windshield, wouldn’t you have made a statement or commotion or mention of that while speaking with your dispatch/controller...SOMEONE?!?! At least, a verbal exclamation like, “Holy crap, something hit the train!” SOMETHING! But, alas, there is NOTHING on the recordings!

I’m willing to bet that NOTHING hit that train, the notion that something hit it is just MSM/Political spin to take the focus off of the actual engineers’ FAILURES!!


21 posted on 05/19/2015 9:20:52 AM PDT by ExTxMarine (Public sector unions: A & B agreeing on a contract to screw C!)
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To: Abby4116

Next the trespasser will look like Bush.


22 posted on 05/19/2015 9:21:25 AM PDT by Proud2BeRight
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To: thackney

Yeah....so? Had the Amtrak train not derailed this thread would not have been because the pandering Philly TV station would have led with something else.

Were it a truly unprompted news item, it would have stood without mentioning the AMTRAK derailment in the originating outlet story. These so-called journalists are nothing but frigging misery ghouls. Fie on them.


23 posted on 05/19/2015 9:25:24 AM PDT by Gaffer
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To: Blood of Tyrants

24 posted on 05/19/2015 9:26:44 AM PDT by Bratch
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To: SoConPubbie

It matters not at all. Trying to shift the blame away from the engineer who was exercising questionable judgment at the moment, because this may have “distracted” him, does not alter the outcome.

The time span between the “distracted moment” and the derailment had to have been exceeded, even accelerating the locomotive at its most extreme maximum.


25 posted on 05/19/2015 9:26:53 AM PDT by alloysteel ("Before I refuse to take your questions, I have an opening statement..." Ronald Reagan)
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To: Gaffer
Yep.

Back to the same two questions, no matter what:

Why was the train going over 100?...

And why so late to hit the brakes?

Tough to keep focused with all the squirrels and shiny (colorful?) distractions.

26 posted on 05/19/2015 9:36:42 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: Gaffer

“So. A trespasser is the reason to speed up to 100 MPH. This is diversionist BS.”

So maybe he opened the throttle setting to try and hit the trespasser.


27 posted on 05/19/2015 9:38:30 AM PDT by Parley Baer
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To: Abby4116

I believe the Amtrack train had a camera on the front. If there was a similar incident it would be documented.


28 posted on 05/19/2015 9:38:41 AM PDT by McGruff (What did Hillary know and when did she know it?)
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To: Abby4116

Just stop (not you Abby), the crash had nothing to due with a thrown object.


29 posted on 05/19/2015 9:41:33 AM PDT by VTenigma (The Democratic party is the party of the mathematically challenged)
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To: Abby4116
Look...lets start with facts....
1. Was the train traveling at a 100+ mph going in to a curve posted as max 50 mph?
2. Why did the engineer go in to the curve at twice+ the posted safe speed?
3. Is that curve posted as max 50 because over that the train is likely to derail?
4. Did the train derail?

All the rest is BS unless someone is CYA why they had an incompetent engineer..or has an agenda build on faulthoods...

where is the NTSB analyzes of this crash.?

30 posted on 05/19/2015 9:42:21 AM PDT by tophat9000 (An Eye for an Eye, a Word for a Word...nothing more)
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To: tophat9000
From the article:

"National Transportation Safety Board officials said that Amtrak 188, which derailed in Port Richmond, killing eight and injuring over 200, was also struck by an unknown object."

I believe it was a conductor who mentioned the train being struck by an object (the Amtrak that crashed), not the engineer.

Two other trains were struck by objects on the same stretch of tracks within a short time (one reported by Septa and one by passengers on another Amtrak) so it isn't too hard to imagine this one being also.

It may very well be all the engineer's fault, but I'm willing to keep an open mind. It is actually a much more dangerous situation if it is not his fault.

31 posted on 05/19/2015 10:00:17 AM PDT by Abby4116
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To: Abby4116

FBI agents performed forensic work on a grapefruit-sized fracture on the left side of the Amtrak locomotive’s windshield, and the National Transportation Safety Board said they found no evidence of any damage that could have been caused by a firearm.

http://www.aol.com/article/2015/05/18/investigators-usure-anything-struck-train-before-derailment/21184761/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl3%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D1216893012


32 posted on 05/19/2015 10:10:25 AM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: tophat9000
where is the NTSB analyzes of this crash.?

They're still examining the engineer's skull to see if there are any bullet holes in it.

33 posted on 05/19/2015 10:13:17 AM PDT by Cementjungle
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To: SoConPubbie

Only scenario that would make sense is if the object came through the window and struck the driver on the head thus rendering him unconscious etc...(he said he didn’t remember anything)..and his limp body caused his leg to press more on the accelerator, so by the time the train got to the next corner it was doing the 106 ...

However although there is suppose to be a crack, there is no big hole or most of the window gone..


34 posted on 05/19/2015 10:35:54 AM PDT by Tennessee Nana
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To: Gaffer
Yeah....so?

So... A trespasser is not the reason to speed up to 100 MPH, since that was not related to train.

35 posted on 05/19/2015 10:40:30 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: Abby4116

Look speeding is speeding.. a rock isn’t going to make you take a curve at 2×+ the posted speed..physical laws, not a rock or PC CYA, rules if you are going to derail


36 posted on 05/19/2015 10:41:13 AM PDT by tophat9000 (An Eye for an Eye, a Word for a Word...nothing more)
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To: thackney

You aren’t making any sense to me. My whole point was this “trespasser” stuff was a diversion and a misery ghoul TV station’s way of getting more hits or viewer interest by connecting it with AMTRAK (if you read their story, they don’t fail to remind us all about the AMTRAK derailment).

This trespasser thing is a nothing story, period. It would not even have been reported this far had it not been in proximity to the AMTRAK derailment and around the same time thereabouts.

Not worth arguing anymore, frankly. Just gives that Philly TV station more hits and play.


37 posted on 05/19/2015 10:46:09 AM PDT by Gaffer
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To: Parley Baer
So maybe he opened the throttle setting to try and hit the trespasser.

Ha! My first thought but then I remembered that dogs, cats will maneuver a little. That takes an ability to STEER.

The only time where you can guarantee hitting the trespasser is if it's a damned squirrel. Those suckers will sit up, look and listen, then dart out of the way and stop. And then they'll go right back into your path. It's a universal law I think. When you try to steer to keep from hitting one is the big mistake - damage or a wreck. Not worth it. Just let the little nut rat meet his maker.

38 posted on 05/19/2015 10:52:32 AM PDT by Gaffer
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To: Gaffer
My whole point was this “trespasser” stuff was a diversion

It was a different story. It was a story about a train getting shot at. It had nothing to do with the Amtrak derailment except a multitude of folks confusing the two.

39 posted on 05/19/2015 10:56:30 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: thackney

Go to the Philly TV page cited and read it. Show me where it doesn’t mention the AMTRAK derailment. It does.


40 posted on 05/19/2015 11:05:51 AM PDT by Gaffer
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