Posted on 01/07/2014 8:51:21 AM PST by afraidfortherepublic
About 500 passengers aboard three Amtrak trains were stranded overnight in a remote part of northern Illinois because of blowing and drifting snow, Amtrak officials said today.
The trains were halted late Monday near Mendota, about 80 miles west of Chicago. The passengers were aboard the Southwest Chief from Los Angeles, the Illinois Zephyr from Quincy, Ill., and the California Zephyr from the San Francisco Bay area, Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari told The Associated Press.
The trains became stuck around 4:15 p.m. ET Monday after they hit a 12-foot snow drift that paralyzed the engines, passenger Bryan Plummer told ABC News today by cellphone.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
He described the deplorable conditions but I was a kid and don't remember much. I suppose sickness, bathroom facilities and food supplies took their toll.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG59X7bMDpA
It was in 1952 and above is a newsreel from the time. Astounding footage. Well worth watching.
Sweet.
The US Coast Guard rescues some global warming nuts stranded in the Antarctic, but we can’t rescue 500 American citizens stranded by snow in Illinois... go figure.
After the Russian revolution, eastward-bound trains carrying people fleeing the commies were intentionally stopped so the passengers would freeze to death.
Any railroaders know that that means?
Does it mean they burned out the electric motors?
I’m not that familiar with the specifics, but if you restrict the engine air inlet enough with snow, the engine will stall.
OMG!!!, I’m sure this has NEVER happened before in wintertime in all U.S. railroad history, never!!!!! /sarc
Amtrak runs out of food even on bright clear summer days on three-hour trips, I wonder what those folks wound up having to eat.
I thought everyone in Illinois knew that you have to go south of I-80 to be in the uncivilized redneck territory.
My wife rode this route often. About once a year she would be on one that broke down.
Cold and snow did not seem to be needed!
The global warming nuts are also crooked “academics” paid for by Obama’s favorite donors. You don’t go on a lark like that without a pile of money. These are Obama supporters we’re talking about. Chop chop, make it snappy, Coast Guard!
Either snow in the motor cooling vents or brake hoses ripped off the front.
At a guess.
Paralyzed the engines.
From another article, it sounds like the engine got stuck in the snow. I saw no reference to the train loosing power, which is supplied by the engine.
I don’t recall reading the trains loosing power, so presumably the engines were still running.
Thanks for the link!
“paralyzed the engines”
I’m guessing the author is referring to “engines” as engine cars on the train. Only way I can make sense of it.
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