I know nothing of how the systems work, but I have to agree with you that there must be more to this than a simple matter of missing a signal. I find it hard to believe that any system today would permit two trains going in opposite directions to on the same piece of track at the same time.
If there were red lights, they were before the siding, and just prior to the end of the siding.
If they are on, the engineer slows down, the track is ‘switched’ and the train routes off to the siding.
After it clears the switch, the switch changes back for thru traffic.
At the end of the siding, the switch is set for thru traffic, and the train on the siding must wait until the lights go green and the switch changes to allow the train back onto the main track.
Somehow, this didn’t happen. The engineer does not control the lights or switches.
Methinks the RR company is trying to lay off blame on the engineer, because of lawsuits.
Or it was a terrorist act, and the feds are keeping it under wraps until they can investigate further.
“I know nothing of how the systems work, but I have to agree with you that there must be more to this than a simple matter of missing a signal. I find it hard to believe that any system today would permit two trains going in opposite directions to on the same piece of track at the same time.”
After the investigations are conducted, it will almost certainly come down to a single finding:
The engineer of one train missed a Stop Signal, and ended up on single track in the face of an opposing train.
You better start “believing”.
There is only ONE section of railroad in the entire United States where a train will be forced to a dead stop before passing a Stop Signal. That’s on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, in the section between New Haven Connecticut and Boston upon which the “ACSES” system is in place. I believe they’ve also got ACSES operational on certain portions of the Corridor between New York and Washington.
Anywhere else, a train can pass a Stop Signal just as easily as you can pass a red traffic light in your own car. In cab signaled systems (again, not in place where this accident occurred), a train might be slowed to 20mph by the speed control apparatus, but it can STILL pass a Stop Signal without coming to a complete stop.
The truth is, almost everywhere in the United States (except where I’ve described), trains CAN end up (in your words) “going in opposite directions to on the same piece of track at the same time.”
What keeps them from doing that?
Answer: the integrity and character of the folks running ‘em.
It’s really that simple.
- John