Amtrak train 43 left Chicago night thinking they would make a safe trip. Well, they were wrong. It his a gravel truck at Clark Road outside of Chicago around 9pm I’m guessing. I was in Porter when it happened. I heard it over the scanner after trains started to back up. Saw an Amtrak train coming off the Michigan line, walked over to see what the power was, it was AMT 90200 leading with a P42 on the back. The engineer came out and talked with us for a short while saying it was a pretty bad mess and the line will be blocked for some time. NS trains were stopped from Chesterton to Otis, IN. We decided to call it a night knowing we weren’t gonna see any more trains for some time.
In the morning we headed back to our spot to watch more trains. While crossing the tracks, I noticed an Amtrak engine sitting in the siding. It was the same one involved in the accident. Couldn’t really get too close due to it was between two roads on railroad property. Didn’t want to get close so I used the zoom on the digital camera and took two shots. It was AMT 154 and AMT 142. 154 had its nose flattend. This shot is awaiting acception on Railpictures so check out my signature for photos. If not there, keep checking back or I will let everyone know when it uploads.
There are also six other pictures hoping to get accepted including former CR GP15-1, NS SD70M, UP C44AC(half-winged), line of CN GP9R’s, and BNSF 522 running light.
Did not see the Amtrak engine however, the pic that does come up is interesting. It is a steam engine sitting on a bridge, errrr, well not sitting ON a bridge, kinda wedged between the bridge supports but missing part of the bridge. And believe it or not someone is in the cab. A very brave soul he is. [:0]