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Metra operates commuter train with coach door open
I went to Chicago and rode Metra on the old Burlington route from Aurora to Chicago and found it to be very well run, at least from my layman’s perspective. The time keeping was good, the train handling was always smooth and comfortable i.e. no slack action or other roughness. The personnel were all courteous and perfessional. I gave them an A. I hope they are not losing their edge.
Guess the FRA would have had a stroke over the old open platform coaches on the B&M!
It was during a transit strike in Philadelphia in January in the 1960’s when the Commuter Trains (in this case the former Reading Lines) were the only viable mass transit. I remember standing on the steps of a jammed packed Reading MU electric car, holding tightly on to the railing, and grateful for the privilege, with vestibule and doors open, as we moved along between stations, in a bitter cold wind.
Cold and snow hinder operation of most things mechanical. Seems there is no back up way to close doors on this equipment so the train set can continue in service with the door secured closed. Is this a newer model commuter coach or a museum piece still in service in America since funding for transit usually amounts to more asphalt!
Why is this being reported now? The incident happened on February 5th, not March 5th.
Maybe a look at an old photo of an open platform coach would be in order. There are no guard rails on all sides. You may be refering to the old open end observation cars. They were railed on the three open sides.
The headline should read: “Metra employees operate commuter train with coach door open.”
Well reading the article as printed based upon facts as presented, safety procedures/practices were not followed. The engineer/conductor did not get the green/safe all locked indication so the train should have never moved. Better to delay entire train, than have a fatality &/or serious injury. Cell-cameras are everywhere, and everyone has one. BNSF/Metra discipline must follow, safety must come first.
Back in the day, I can remember car doors being open on the platform (east) side of the train on the NYC’s Harlem Division trains from at least Pleasantville to Chappaqua. As the trains slowed for Chappaqua, the stair wells filled with commuters who often alighted from a moving train.
More than likely, the conductor will now be the safest railroader on the system after this screw up. Everyone makes mistakes. I’m sure he learned his lesson. He probably has a new nickname though. All engineers will keep asking him if the door is closed.
I was on a Northstar train in Minneapolis that had an open coach door for the entire trip to big lake. The car was closed and would be used on the return trip to a Twins game. The car was guarded, so maybe the conductor wanted some fresh air. It’s surprising to see how conductors look out an open door at 79mph.
I guess it’s a good thing the B&M isn’t running those open platform coaches anymore.
This is not that rare, I complained to the MBTA several times in 2008 and 2009 about doors being open during motion (for long distances and line speed) out of both North and South Station to little effect. Finally (06/14/10) the MBTA issued a public service statement that trains would now no longer operate trains with doors open.
Open platforms have guard rails on all sides, open doors do not, and I do not refer to the half dutch doors. Open doors represent a danger particularly to young children who make random inexplicable acts despite their parents’ best efforts.
Open platforms have guard rails on all sides, open doors do not, and I do not refer to the half dutch doors. Open doors represent a danger particularly to young children who make random inexplicable acts despite their parents best efforts.
Years ago and on a line not to be named…on hot summer days the conductor would leave the (inter-car) door on the leading passenger unit open so that we could get some cooling…the cars did not have air conditioning.
On the same line with the same cars, many a time I would repair to the rear platform for a quick smoke while the train was rolling.
Although I know the reason why, it is sad that you just can’t do that kind of stuff any more.
I’ve been on a couple Metra trains where a door has stuck open a few times. Passengers kept other passengers from passing through until a conductor was located and they slid the door closed manually. The Metra BNSF line remains, in my opinion, the best run line on Metra.
I know that certain transit properties have an interlock circuit between the “all doors closed” trainline loop circuit and the loco generator field system… Thus, it the doors aren’t proven closed, the loco can’t develop tractive effort. There is a sealed bypass switch, if activated, requires some subsequent explanation to management !
Ed Jordan,
Lunenburg, NS
I know certain transit operators have an interlock circuit between the loco generator field circuit and the “all doors closed” trainline loop circuit. If all doors aren’t proven closed, then the loco can’t develop tractive effort. There’s usually a sealed bypass switch that can be actuated to override this, but breaking the seal has to be explained to management !
Ed Jordan
Lunenburg NS