[Flick Lives]

I’m reminded of a commuter rail accident in Boston back in 1990 that had similar circumstances. A train approached a curve at almost 80 mph and the curve was posted for 30 mph. The train jumped the track and rammed another commuter train already in the station.

Over 250 injured. The only reason it wasn’t more horrific is the locomotive on the commuter train parked in the station absorbed the bulk of the impact. If the train had hit the passenger cars dead on, it would have accordianed those cars. I saw the locomotive after the accident. There was little left other then the bottom of the frame and the trucks or wheels. The body was gone. Cab gone. I don’t remember if the prime mover was still attached.

http://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/13/us/at-least-264-are-hurt-in-train-collision-in-boston.html

[lightman]

Also very similar to a wreck about two years ago one Amtrak Northeast Corridor when a northboud took the “Conshohocken curve” in Philadelphia at more than double the posted speed limit.

Positive Train Control had NOT been installed on that section!