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The more we learn about Amtrak derailment the stranger it gets
The Hill ^ | 31 December 2017 | Russell G. Quimby

Posted on 12/31/2017 8:58:50 AM PST by oh8eleven

The National Transportation Safety Board investigating the accident, which killed three people and injured more than 50 others, is still trying to determine the probable cause and prevent such accidents in the future.

It appears that there were two people in the lead locomotive control cab of the train who were both injured and hospitalized: an instructor engineer, and another engineer who was learning the territory and qualifying to operate the train along the route.

(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: amtrak; ntsb; railroad; trainwreck; williegreen
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To: x_plus_one
What is the evidence it was going 80 mph. Is it a camera?

(gee, everybody thinks I'm making all this stuff up. Even when it's printed in the article that the 'manager' of the run is likely to blame-meaning he told the engineers to ignore the speed limit in order to prove that they could beat the old route by 10-15 minutes).

Anyway, here is where AMTRAK tells how they know the train was doing 81 MPH.

Amtrak train going 81 mph just before derailing around 30-mph curve; 3 dead

121 posted on 01/01/2018 9:53:03 PM PST by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: Bull Snipe
Believe it recorded 79 mph just before derailment.

Actually, the speed limit was 79mph prior to the curve and the train was doing 81mph. SO.... regardless to the approaching curve, the train was already doing OVER the speed limit ANYWHERE on that track.

WHY? Because they were 30 mins late in even leaving the station and were behind schedule (the schedule that claimed the new route would save around 15 minutes versus the old route).

122 posted on 01/01/2018 9:59:50 PM PST by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: llevrok
If they drove this at night in training a couple of times, there were enough visuals to tell them where they were.

They knew exactly where they were and they knew exactly where the curve was. Proof: they drove this at night TWICE in practice runs. They had to SLOW DOWN for the CURVE on both practice runs.

They didn't make the run ON TIME on either of the practice runs. They had to go OVER the speed limit (79mph) on most of the run and keep the speed up until the very last SECOND before HARD BRAKING, which 'management' said would work to get through the curve and make the run 'on time'. Management was wrong. People died. It's in the article. They admit that 'management' made the call.

123 posted on 01/01/2018 10:08:16 PM PST by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: llevrok
The whole thing smells fishy, honestly

I don't know why you say that.

The run could not be made in 'record time' (compared to the old route) if the train went through the curve at 30mph. In the article the company admits that management MAY have had something to do with the train speeding through the curve. The way they express it makes it clear that is exactly what happened. This was a highly publicized inaugural run for this train. Failure to beat the record was not an option.

124 posted on 01/01/2018 10:16:48 PM PST by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: yldstrk
dollars to donuts they were smoking and toking together

This was a highly publicized and closely watched inaugural run. There were live video cameras in the cab.

As usual, you are way out there.

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!! : )

125 posted on 01/01/2018 10:19:20 PM PST by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: matthew fuller
Rather than judgement, management, experience, competence, being at fault, I’ll bet it all goes back to one thing and one thing only. Unions.

You'd lose the bet. Article says 'management' was the problem. The run could not be made 'on time' by slowing to 30 mph for that curve. The run had to be made 'on time'. A lot of money was spent based on the claim it would be 'faster' than the old route.

Can you not see the obvious ?

126 posted on 01/01/2018 10:22:40 PM PST by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: editor-surveyor
It was terrorism, not speed that caused the derailment.

Still drunk from New Year's Eve or just being sarcastic ?

127 posted on 01/01/2018 10:26:44 PM PST by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: UCANSEE2

black box showed that the brakes were being applied just a few seconds before the derailment.


128 posted on 01/02/2018 2:41:45 AM PST by Bull Snipe
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To: Western Phil
They used a garden hose to provide air. Does not work.

That's why I always use two garden hoses. Breathe in through one, and out through the other.

129 posted on 01/02/2018 3:03:48 AM PST by palmer (...if we do not have strong families and strong values, then we will be weak and we will not survive)
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To: UCANSEE2
"They didn't make the run ON TIME on either of the practice runs. They had to go OVER the speed limit (79mph) on most of the run and keep the speed up until the very last SECOND before HARD BRAKING, which 'management' said would work to get through the curve and make the run 'on time'. Management was wrong. People died."

Sorry to interrupt your fantasy, but you have devolved into ridiculousness. Sure "management" may have said keep the speed up, that's entirely possible. But "management" didn't instruct them to perform "HARD BRAKING" (all caps). There was no braking by the engineers. There was an automatic brake, but that was obviously inadequate.

130 posted on 01/02/2018 3:20:50 AM PST by palmer (...if we do not have strong families and strong values, then we will be weak and we will not survive)
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To: UCANSEE2

I don’t think so. I think the federal law pretty much set up just to avoid that problem. The train official may have exposure but that is for the lawyers.

There is a clause in maritime law pertaining to liability if the owner is on board for just such situations. A stronger burden of proof of innocence or reduced liability is on the ship with an owner on board.


131 posted on 01/02/2018 8:19:56 AM PST by Cold Heart
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To: Cold Heart
I think the federal law pretty much set up just to avoid that problem.

I would have to agree with you on that.

132 posted on 01/02/2018 10:17:54 AM PST by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: palmer
Sorry to interrupt your fantasy, but you have devolved into ridiculousness.

I don't think it's ridiculous, but most of the facts fit my 'fantasy'.

Sure "management" may have said keep the speed up, that's entirely possible. But "management" didn't instruct them to perform "HARD BRAKING" (all caps).

You might be correct about that one part.

There was no braking by the engineers. There was an automatic brake, but that was obviously inadequate.

What caused the 'automatic brake' to engage ?

133 posted on 01/02/2018 10:22:01 AM PST by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: UCANSEE2
What caused the 'automatic brake' to engage ?

They don't say: https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900005974/train-speeding-50-mph-over-limit-before-deadly-derailment.html but my guess is that it went off as the train derailed, not before. The article says that the sensors and controls for automatic braking were installed but not turned on. I suppose it is possible someone thought they were already turned on.

134 posted on 01/02/2018 10:39:53 AM PST by palmer (...if we do not have strong families and strong values, then we will be weak and we will not survive)
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To: Cold Heart
A stronger burden of proof of innocence or reduced liability is on the ship with an owner on board.


135 posted on 01/02/2018 4:03:12 PM PST by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: palmer
I suppose it is possible someone thought they were already turned on.

If we presume that to be true, then it would mean that the engineers didn't notice that the train was still doing 80MPH after passing BOTH SIGNS. Barring an equipment failure (actually there would have to be two 'mechanical/electric system' failures), the only thing that makes sense is that the engineer in charge WILLFULLY kept the speed at 80MPH to make it on time and he was told that he could make it safely doing so (even though no one had taken that train through that curve at 80mph in the training/test runs).

Add in to the mix that neither of the engineers reported any type of malfunction.

136 posted on 01/02/2018 4:12:35 PM PST by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: UCANSEE2

First reports were that something on the rails derailed the train. In the interests of national security, changing the story to excessive speed would work just fine. Afterall, if the public can be fooled into ignoring the Las Vegas Massacre ( how many moons ago was that?) they can be fooled into thinking ANTIFA did not cement boot the tracks. ANTIFA has been bragging about doing exactly this in Washington State.


137 posted on 01/03/2018 1:19:26 AM PST by x_plus_one ( I pray Gods eyes may once again gaze upon me and remind me that I am still His child.)
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To: x_plus_one
First reports were that something on the rails derailed the train.

Those reports were from bloggers and the media who were 'surmising' that theory.

In the interests of national security, changing the story to excessive speed would work just fine.

Except for the fact that the train was doing 80mph. All the evidence and witness testimony supports that.

138 posted on 01/03/2018 5:10:29 AM PST by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: UCANSEE2

Yes there is that - it was going 80 mph. But so much disinformation - who knows anything - even eye witnesses get it wrong...


139 posted on 01/03/2018 10:42:26 AM PST by x_plus_one ( I pray Gods eyes may once again gaze upon me and remind me that I am still His child.)
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To: x_plus_one
even eye witnesses get it wrong...

I agree with you. Still, anyone can tell the difference between 30mph and 80mph.

140 posted on 01/03/2018 3:32:29 PM PST by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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