If there had been a second crew member, there would have been someone else to confirm that all the rules were followed and help to set more brakes.
If there had been a second crew member it might not have been necessary to leave the train unattended, something which is probably a very bad idea whenever there is hazardous cargo.
If there had been a second crew member, someone might have been there to observe when a fire started in the locomotive, firemen shut off the engine, and the train eventually started to move downhill.
Yes, exactly. Very well put. What most people who don’t realize is that most railroads run a minimum two man crew and are fine with it. And don’t forget the FRA mandates, especially when it comes to hazmat loads.
Honestly, I don’t know why people would even have a problem with this. The last thing anyone working on the railroad would want is a disaster like the one in Canada. After that happened, the whole incident was laid out in detail, and literally beat into our heads on how NOT to do things.