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Derailed Amtrak train plunges off bridge onto I-5 lanes south of Tacoma
KOMONews.com ^ | Monday, December 18th 2017 | by KOMO Staff

Posted on 12/18/2017 8:44:10 AM PST by ImJustAnotherOkie

(KOMO) — PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. - All southbound lanes of Interstate 5 are closed south of Joint Base Lewis-McChord after an Amtrak train derailed and fell off an overpass onto the freeway. Some injuries have been reported. View image on Twitter View image on Twitter

Chris Karnes 🌹 @TacomaTransit The train has derailed. Emergency crews are on the scene. Massive damage. People are hurt. 10:01 AM - Dec 18, 2017 24 24 Replies 119 119 Retweets 30 30 likes Twitter Ads info and privacy

Motorists are being warned to avoid the area. "I was just shocked," said Peter Zimmerman of Olympia. "I couldn't believe it. It was like something out of a movie." State transportation officials say the train derailed near Mounts Road. View image on TwitterView image on Twitter

Danae Orlob @naenae007 @komonews 9:55 AM - Dec 18, 2017 12 12 Replies 9 9 Retweets 4 4 likes Twitter Ads info and privacy

View image on Twitter View image on Twitter

WSDOT Tacoma Traffic ✔ @wsdot_tacoma All SB lanes of I-5 blocked near Mounts Road in Pierce County due to derailed train car. Avoid area! 9:45 AM - Dec 18, 2017 33 33 Replies 470 470 Retweets 118 118 likes Twitter Ads info and privacy Amtrak officials said the train was the No. 501, which operates between Seattle and Portland. The train had just begun using a new high-speed route Monday morning. Lakewood city oficials had earlier expressed fears that the new route would cause serious accidents.

Amtrak service south of Seattle is temporarily suspended. Service from Seattle to points north and east is continuing to operate.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: 2; amtrak; rail; tacoma; trainwreck
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To: Terry Mross

Yes, all braking starts in the rear and moves forward as far as I know. That’s the only way to do it safely.


101 posted on 12/18/2017 9:25:22 AM PST by ltc8k6
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To: NautiNurse

There is no way it was going 18 ah hour for the cars to end up like that.


102 posted on 12/18/2017 9:25:28 AM PST by Terry Mross (Liver spots And blood thinners..)
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To: Rusty0604

Marie Harford just mentioned the Philly derailment. I’m amazed she brought that up.


103 posted on 12/18/2017 9:25:53 AM PST by mewzilla (Was Obama surveilling John Roberts? Might explain a lot.)
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie
Miles of track.

A few hundred feet of major highway overpasses.

Probability that a random derailing would occur on a overpass: 0.3 percent

Probability that an Islamic derailing would occur on an overpass: 75 percent (and only that low because so many Muslims are stupid)

ML/NJ

104 posted on 12/18/2017 9:26:27 AM PST by ml/nj
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To: Paladin2

amtrak cascade consist:

https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Rail/TrainEquipment.htm

“We are fortunate in the Pacific Northwest to have some of the only European-style trains in the country. The train equipment, known for its comfort and performance, is manufactured by Talgo, a Spanish company that provides trains used throughout Europe.”

“Talgo trains are different from passenger trains typically used in the United States and Canada. They are articulated, which means the train cars operate as a set: adjacent cars share axles and wheels and function as a single, complete unit. This increases stability and improves safety and the smoothness of the ride. In addition, a gravity-based tilt system reduces travel times, while also assuring that passengers are comfortable and safe. “


105 posted on 12/18/2017 9:26:43 AM PST by Paladin2
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To: llevrok

New Orleans has a wooden trestle that is miles long, raising the track from ground level near the stadium downtown up to crossing the Huey Long bridge. I have ridden Amtrak over this bridge many times and it scares me to death. I was in New Orleans just a couple of months ago, and still see freight cars parked way up high on this trestle. If one of those supports goes down, yikes.


106 posted on 12/18/2017 9:27:17 AM PST by RightField
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To: Enchante

They’re saying on FOX now it was going much slower.


107 posted on 12/18/2017 9:28:06 AM PST by Rusty0604
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

I thought train disasters of this nature only happen in India, but it is Amtrak after all... government operated.


108 posted on 12/18/2017 9:28:54 AM PST by bar sin·is·ter (Climate Scientology - another example of science fiction morphing into a religious cult)
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To: mewzilla

Can’t find any over head shots from the scene. Bad weather? Airspace closed off?


109 posted on 12/18/2017 9:29:12 AM PST by mewzilla (Was Obama surveilling John Roberts? Might explain a lot.)
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To: ltc8k6

If that’s the case how did one car pass the other? I realize if one car derailed and suddenly stopped the cars behind it would keep going and thus the accordian effect. But wouldn’t automatic emergency braking on the cars behind kick in?


110 posted on 12/18/2017 9:29:15 AM PST by Terry Mross (Liver spots And blood thinners..)
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To: NautiNurse

“FNC reporting the train was moving about 18mph, as opposed to 80mph.”

Judging from the appearance I find that hard to believe. Although there is a lot of momentum in multi car train.


111 posted on 12/18/2017 9:29:41 AM PST by Revel
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To: Paladin2

Where's the other end of the Train?

112 posted on 12/18/2017 9:29:43 AM PST by Paladin2
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To: Paladin2

Per a report on FNC, other cars upside down in the woods.


113 posted on 12/18/2017 9:30:41 AM PST by mewzilla (Was Obama surveilling John Roberts? Might explain a lot.)
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To: mewzilla

I heard that.


114 posted on 12/18/2017 9:30:52 AM PST by Rusty0604
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To: RightField

Like riding an old creaking wooden roller coaster.


115 posted on 12/18/2017 9:31:00 AM PST by Terry Mross (Liver spots And blood thinners..)
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

News reports are now saying Multiple Fatalities, not multiple casualties...


116 posted on 12/18/2017 9:31:25 AM PST by djf ("She wore a raspberry beret, the kind you find in a second hand store..." - Prince)
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To: Revel

Half of the train is missing from the pictures.

Given the curves to get over the bridge, 18 mph makes more sense than 80.


117 posted on 12/18/2017 9:31:34 AM PST by Paladin2
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To: Paladin2
Where's the other end of the Train?

Probably in Portland by now ;-)

118 posted on 12/18/2017 9:31:43 AM PST by llevrok (Swamp nothing! Give Washington DC an enema !)
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To: RitchieAprile

The trouble with ‘high-speed’ trains is there is little ridership demand; every town along the way wants the train to stop there; 79 mph as this train was going is not high speed; all of these trains need heavy subsidies to operate which means huge tax increases to support them.

In the end, because of all the stops, its faster to drive ... A real ‘high-speed’ train goes in the neighborhood of 200 mph - so the only sort of destinations that would work in the US would be nonstop NYC to SF or the like. - definitely not Seattle to Portland. But there is no demand, outside of the ultraliberal wine and cheese set.


119 posted on 12/18/2017 9:32:27 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: ltc8k6

The close ups...maybe confirm what you are saying.


120 posted on 12/18/2017 9:33:04 AM PST by Osage Orange (Watch your six.)
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