I had to shut down the four (memory says four) tracks running east out of Kansas City north of the Missouri River. We were setting bridge beams for a moving walkway connector from a parking garage to a recreational facility.
It has been twenty-five years ago but as I remember it we had 28 Iron Workers, Eight operators, five cranes, all on Easter Sunday at triple-time. Plus about 25k in special bonds and insurance for the rail lines benefit.
This accident, from the track mounted equipment, appears to be Amtrak killing their own internal workers or internal contractors. An outside contractor would not be working on the tracks without them shut down with flagmen miles back in each direction (paid for by the outside contractor of course.)
Not doing the proper communications.
Since my ‘experience’ with Amtrak, I have heard from others.
The most memorable, plumbers working under a large building and over multiple tracks in Chicago.
They had all the ‘stuff’, two ground guys/lookouts, a mile of caution tape, safety cones...
They said, the first few days if they saw a light in the distance, they climbed down the scaffold and ran like crazy.
After much climbing and running, they relaxed.
Then one day, someone said this looks different?
Not to worry they always look like that, one said!!!
Not exactly!
The slower of the two swears the train hit the scaffolding just as he let go!!!