Amtrak derailment in Tacoma - multiple fatalities

[Puffnstuff]

The company I worked for probably put up that signal. I believe the train was already off the rails and knocked it down.

In one of my earlier posts with the CNN video I commented on the gouging in the gravel next to the signal which seemed to indicate that the wheels were on the ground but it came right back up to the rails instead of following them along the bedding.

 

[interchange]

This sounds like a case where things will change significantly over time as evidence is released. Can't be sure what facts to trust.

 

[BoomerD]

I just heard it hit something on the track. (local radio in Nashville)

There was some mention about that being a rumor yesterday...but none of the local news channels are mentioning it today. Everyone is focused on 80 mph in a 30 mph corner.

here's the animation of what they THINK happened:\

http://www.king5.com/video/news/local/amtrak-derailment-animation/281-2842258

 

[Puffnstuff]

There was some mention about that being a rumor yesterday...but none of the local news channels are mentioning it today. Everyone is focused on 80 mph in a 30 mph corner.

here's the animation of what they THINK happened:\

http://www.king5.com/video/news/local/amtrak-derailment-animation/281-2842258

Thanks for the link and I had to use chrome to see the animation as neither FF or IE would do it.

 

[MomentsofSanity]

At that speed on that curve nothing needed to be on the track to derail that train.

 

[BoomerD]

Thanks for the link and I had to use chrome to see the animation as neither FF or IE would do it.

I use Chrome, but oddly, it works in IE for me.

 

[interchange]

NPR was reporting that they were still testing PTC on the route so it wasn't active yet. An NTSB review of another crash highlighted a lack of a strong safety culture at Amtrak. I know from working in a very dangerous industry (healthcare) how critical culture is to safety.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I use Chrome, but oddly, it works in IE for me.

If I go to their main page on the site and select their link it plays fine so who knows. As for the wreck I'm waiting for the engineer to say that big foot was on the tracks which scared him into not slowing down or some other ludicrous excuse.

 

[Darwin333]

NTSB now says PTC was installed, it just wasn't active. So there is a strong chance this was entirely avoidable. You get the dimwit in chief tweeting immediately about his plan for infrastructure and yet everything was in place here and people still died.

Ironically this was/supposed to be an infrastructure improvement.

 

[Darwin333]

The company I worked for probably put up that signal. I believe the train was already off the rails and knocked it down.

Regardless of the signage, don't conductors have detailed maps listing the grade, speed limits, crossing, etc? I'd assume that a person driving a few hundred tons that has potentially hundreds of people on board would have all the information he required at his disposal without the need for anything external. Sure the external reminders are great but is that really the one and only thing they rely on? Terrorists or asshole kids just have to knock down a few signs to derail trains?

 

[skyking]

what are you on about? My reply was not anything resembling an excuse. It was simply informative in nature.
The more I hear about this, I think they did just blow through the speed limits into that curve. We'll see but it does seem like the most likely scenario.

 

[K1052]

Engineers train for their routes extensively. Human error still entirely possible even with experienced personnel.

If congress had appropriated money to assist with the national PTC mandate it would have been done by now. Amtrak and all the commuter rail operators were not exactly awash with spare billions to quickly develop and install this on their systems hence the delays. I'd be surprised if the mandate was actually met before the mid 2020s.

 

[skyking]

The PTC system integrates traffic control to prevent conflicts, as well as speed. A simple GPS based device could to the speed warnings now, and it's criminal that it is not in place, IMO.

 

[Puffnstuff]

The PTC system integrates traffic control to prevent conflicts, as well as speed. A simple GPS based device could to the speed warnings now, and it's criminal that it is not in place, IMO.

I think that its really sad that we could put men on the moon 50 years ago but we can't install a functional PTC in a commercial passenger vehicle in the 21st century, especially after all of the fatalities we've suffered from accidents..

 

[K1052]

The PTC system integrates traffic control to prevent conflicts, as well as speed. A simple GPS based device could to the speed warnings now, and it's criminal that it is not in place, IMO.

Doubt you'd have much luck convincing railroads to roll out a separate system as a temporary measure if they are already required to install PTC which will do cab signaling.

 

[purbeast0]

Thanks for the link and I had to use chrome to see the animation as neither FF or IE would do it.

Wow and I thought it was crazy that people still used Firefox, people still use IE too?

 

[Ichinisan]

Unfortunately a federal judge will have to decide the disbursement of the $200m amongst the victims. If it weren't for that federal law this would have to potential to go way up in value to achieve equitable remedy.

I believe that we should all contact our representatives and express our concerns over this law that prevents justice from being served to the victims of any Amtrak accidents. The principle of equitable remedy should be preserved and people should be duly compensated for their injuries and suffering.

Was the law implemented to protect government's interest due to heavy subsidies?

 

[Ichinisan]

Reminds me of the Ford Pinto debacle.

Nothing beats the unassailable logic of capitalism.

I would assume this is the opposite of capitalism. This would be the government looking out for an unprofitable system it has heavily subsidized.

 

[bshole]

I would assume this is the opposite of capitalism. This would be the government looking out for an unprofitable system it has heavily subsidized.

Kind of like the ISP monopolies that just got the green light to pillage the customers. We have crony and monopolistic capitalism in the United States. It is pretty freakin awful. More like Russia than anything.

 

[UNCjigga]

Apparently the lead conductor was out of the engine (in a passenger car) and no one was at the controls at the time of the accident?

 

[interchange]

Apparently the lead conductor was out of the engine (in a passenger car) and no one was at the controls at the time of the accident?

Where'd you read that? But if so... How the hell do you leave the engine car unattended?

 

[UNCjigga]

Where'd you read that? But if so... How the hell do you leave the engine car unattended?

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-new...ngineer-deadly-washington-train-crash-n831341

A conductor "who was getting experience and familiarizing himself with the territory" was in the cab with the engineer, she said, while the train's actual conductor was in the passenger area.

Also heard on TV that the 2 in the cab may have been having a conversation about something else and not minding the controls.

 

[Ketchup]

Thanks for the link and I had to use chrome to see the animation as neither FF or IE would do it.

Worked in FF but I had to kill my adblocker in order to see it.

 

[Jaskalas]

According to this, Amtrac started PTC in 2000, and plans to be done by 2021 (just inside the deadline.) I have no idea what all is involved here, but 21 years? Wouldn't half that have been plenty?

Complaining about construction times? Haha...
Yes, it could have been done faster back in the 1800s and with good old fashion chain gangs and Chinese labor, or even in the early 1900 and no gov laws or regulations. The ability to build fast is not the world we live in today. Companies beg us for permission over each and every square inch. That takes decades.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Was the law implemented to protect government's interest due to heavy subsidies?

Judging from the law's name I believe it was intended to provide Amtrak with economic relief.

Worked in FF but I had to kill my adblocker in order to see it.

I had adblocker running, however, once I visited their main page and used the link there it worked on all browsers. Normally it down't interfere with content loading and I also noticed that with IE the page returned a error 404 unless I used the main page link.