I used to commute on the BNSF Metra line and things generally go like clockwork. However…
This morning a Secret Service agent decided to take the train into Chicago instead of driving because of bad weather. Being a Secret Service agent, he was Packin’ Heat. It went downhill from there, the train was stopped and searched. People had to get off in the cold.
Then, this afternoon the Southwest Chief derailed leaving Union Station. This has blocked all but one track out of the south side of the station and affects some of the same people who were delayed this morning. It’s a mess. Besides the BNSF route, two other Metra routes are impacted. Here’s that story…
Two thoughts: 1. If this is the Secret service agents 1st mistake ---- OK. The second -------He’ll like being in North Pole Alaska. @ 2,- The use of Ladder tracks close to the station in snow is always subject to problems. If Amtrak could have switched further out then if a problem then the whole station is not jammed up. This has always been a concern of mine at several East cost stations. --Washington Union station comes to mind. Asol NYP. and Boston. Philidelphia is an example of the switches further out and not a problem.
The Secret Service agent indentified himself at the station including showing his badge saying he was carrying a gun as he didn’t want to go through a metal detector with it. The Metra person only heard he was carrying a gun and hit the panic button when he boarded the train. A Metra casued problem.
On the Amtrak issue Amtrak is saying two days to get two cars back on the track. My opinion - they don’t want to face the sub zero weather. They would rather inconveninece all the commuter trains and south side of Union Staton Amtrak trains to wait for warmer weather. Amtrak in Chicago is falling apart in regard to customer service.
The news reports last night indicated that the derailed cars had been removed and the track was being inspected for possible damage. My ride (Southwest Service) was late in arriving at CUS but not because of last night’s derailment.
The track and mechanical departments might like to do more, but the operating department already left town with the cash. No railroad in the country is self sufficient anymore to handle even minor inconveniences like this. It’s not in the budget.
If that were Indiana, assuming Indianapolis was so forward thinking to have Metra-like service, they only would have stopped the train pursuant to the fear that one of the passengers was not carrying a weapon . . .
My guess is the ticket agent had a panicky after thought that maybe the Secret Service person was actually some nut case. Let’s keep it our secret, but with a 1000 or so riders, chances are good that others were carrying-some legally as law officers and perhaps a few who consider having a concealed weapon their constitutional “right”.
Posted comments were interesting. Many said Illinois should allow concealed weapons so they could defend themselves against someone deciding to shoot the place up. Gunfight at the Metra Corral. Others were pleased that authorities investigated. Can you imagine regular security checks on Metra passengers? “Metra recommends that you arrive at your station 2 hours before train time.”
A ladder track is one from which all switch off. In the picture above the track going from lower left center to upper center could be considered a ladder track. Usually it is the outside track leading into a yard from which others switch off
Note that there is also shown one ladder track going from the southeast to the northwest. With these tracks, it is possible for a train to be moved to any platform track. And, note the many slipswitches (also known as “puzzle switches”–the Southern RR employee timetables for the Birmingham area referred to the puzzle switches at the Terminal Station) which divert a train to the desired track. I have enjoyed standing at the rear of a train backing into a station such as the Birmingham Terminal or New Orleans Union and watching such switches as we came to them.
Caveat: I did not see where the derailment occurred, or whether it was in fact on the crossovers shown in Brian’s picture.
But…
Amtrak almost always loads its trains on higher-numbered tracks in Union Station, i.e., those to the right in this photograph. BNSF’s Metra trains are always on the lowest numbered tracks (those to the left in the photo), because they have to make the first turn toward the west, just beyond their coach yard. The Amtrak train involved in the derailment had to cross over a number of tracks and get to the same tracks as the BNSF trains use. I fail to see how going further out before crossing over could have made this derailment any less of a rush-hour disaster.
