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Amtrak train derails in Vermont
The governor gave an informed and articulate briefing: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2015/10/05/shumlin-speaks-amtrak-derailment/73391584/
Particularly good article in the influential Vermont Digger by C.B. Hall who also happens to write for Passenger Train Journal and lives just up the road:
http://vtdigger.org/2015/10/05/breaking-news-amtrak-vermonter-derails-in-northfield/
Local coverage updates at:
WCAX-TV http://www.wcax.com/story/30187329/amtrak-vermonter-derailment-injures-7
Burlington Free Press: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2015/10/05/amtrak-derails-northfield/73377120/
Seems the media wants the reason for the derailment to be excess speed.
Well, at least this time human error played zero role in the wreck. It was caused by nature, and I doubt any NECR crews saw the rocks. In fact, they couldn’t have seen the rocks without derailing themselves.
This does mean, however, that Amtrak is short a locomotive in the Vermonter pool, and will have to quickly shuffle locomotives around.
I wonder why NECR didn’t have the kind of sensors that BNSF has out west to warn of rock slides. Perhaps this ledge was judged to be more stable than the ones in Montana.
Isn’t this the area that Amtrak was going to open up or remove the overhanging stone in the cut, when they moved the line to the Conn. River line?
Dr. Iacono, The derailment is in Northfield, VT, not Northfield, MA where the reroute took place.