ABC’s Prime Time aired a story tonight about the Glendale accident, and how most of the fatalities occurred in the lead car when it derailed after colliding with the SUV. I suspect that, next time I ride Metra, I won’t be in the lead car in push-mode. My wife has definitely sworn it off.
I didn’t see the Prime Time segment, but at the time, we, on the Forum, had 2 or 3 long running threads about Push/Pull and grade crossings. And the NTSB (I think it was) also did a study on vehicle dynamics (train in Pull AND train in Push modes) and determined that the derailment danger was nearly the same no matter which mode was used.
That people are riding in the lead vehicle could, however, lead to higher injury numbers. Which would be only eto be expected. In a locomotive you have only one or two people. In a gallery car you have more than 100.
I thought the scene with the sheriff’s officer, the reporter as well as the unseen camera crew standing between two of the tracks of a three track main was the height of unsafe practices while on railroad property.
The comment about the accident being investigated by inumerable government agencies is a little hard to take. I am sure the actual number of investigations can easily be determined and numerated. Each will have a report.
Certainly, the quick fix would be to purchase retired AMTK F40 locos, leave the prime mover inside for ballast and use them for control cars on the non loco end.
The photos of the wrecks seemed to indicate the structure of the control cars did stay intact. The center sill did not bend or crumple nor did the cars accordion. However, the sides of the cars were ripped open which leaves the parties inside subject ot injury or ejection. Any time you go from 60 mph to 0 mph in a few hundred yards or less there is tremendous potential for injury. Seat belts and rear facing seating could reduce the number and severity of injuries in these instances but I doubt you will see those features implemented or even made available.
Slow news day. Since Peter Jennings died, ABC has been having trouble keeping the ratings up – and you can always get a lot of weepies on about a rail accident.
The media don’t know a d___ thing about trains, and most sheriffs don’t either, and all the lawyers want is money.
Grrr.