If the post regarding the fact that this is the third time an accident happened because of the switch in question, oh nelly, hang on to your wallet.
Gabe
Dang, thats horrible. Cl gas is fudged up stuff that unfortunatly we depend on.
Adrianspeeder
This one is getting worse by he minute. Eight people were killed and 240 injured, mostly inhalation injuries from the chlorine gas, according to Fox News. Any idea on the cause? I see a couple of notes blaming a faulty switch. A witness reported hearing “screaching metal,” which I assume was the emergency braking. What a tragedy.
Ross R.
Chlorine is a horable thing to inhale. I work with it almost everyday and I have ended up taking a few whifs before and choked. I guess there is going to be more planning of trains carrying chlorine. Middle, rear of the train? Where do they go…or if they go by rail anymore…
I realize I am a little late here, but I think you need to be a little more circumspect about posting the kind of “news” you’ve been posting in this thread. Yes, a major train accident is certainly something that would be of interest/concern on this forum, but it doesn’t help to be posting rumors or things that have been heard from a friend of a friend, etc. I don’t know who or what your sources are but they certainly don’t seem entirely accurate.
I’m just thinking that the “the conductor’s ok…no, he’s dead…no, he’s ok…no, he’s dead…actually, he’s alive after all” in particular seems almost flippant and definitely irresponsible. Imagine reading that post if you were a friend or a family member of a conductor who worked in that area.
Oh, contraire, I think he would be perfectly suited to report either the existence of weapons of mass destruction or Florida election results.
Gabe
thank you Gabe
here are the Damaged units DO NOT TELL THESE UNIT # TO PEOPLE THIER IS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT IS REALLY SAD ABOUT THE DEATH OF THE ENGINEER AND OTHERS
all SD60 663? NS 659? the lead unit will be retired because of the Death
kevin
As it turns out, I actually do know the Engineer who died. Nice guy and young too. Very sad.
R.I.P., brother, R.I.P.
LC
Do we know what caused it yet?
A friend of mine works that line so his information is very relieable. From what he told me whoever tied up the train in the siding did not line the switch back for mainline movements. The train went into the siding and collided with the one in the siding. This is very unfortunate, and scary, because in the blink of an eye your entire life can change. I did get a sigh of relief when I got a call from my pal telling me what happened.Very glad to hear he was OK. I thought about those people all day and about their families. I can’t begin to comprehend what they are all going through.
LOCOMOTIVES, can be replaced but not a HUMAN LIFE.
Nothing definitive yet Gabe.
LC
Today’s 5 PM news reports in the Atlanta media are stating what blaze posted above-the switch was left lined for the siding. But we all know the media is not always accurate.
Jay
I have heard what is being said in the media, but, pending the results of the investigation I’ll wait to jump to that conclusion. There are a number of possible reasons that the switch could be misaligned. It should be noted that this was part of the NS that is dark so the engineer would not have advance warning by signal of the open switch. I’d like to know if the switch was found lined and locked for the siding. If not vandalism is a possible cause as well.
LC
I will not say that you are wrong on the switch. but over in that area i dont think it is dark terittory. meaning if the switch was left lined the engineer would have been running on a restricting signal. if it was dark territory i dont think the speed would have been that high. and ns dont have no 3 didget unit numbers.
as far as law suits go it wont be exspensive. and not everyone is going to get paid off. it just dont work that way.
I can’t say for certain it is dark. If it is, there would be no signals to warn the engineer. As to legal expenses I don’t think the NS will get off too cheap. Unlike situations where you have grade crossing incidents or employee injuries where the company can pin some blame on the plaintiff, the NS will have a very difficult time blaming people at their jobs or homes going about their daily lives who were killed or seriously and permanently injured by chlorine gas coming from a railroad tank car in the custody and control of the NS. Further, in such cases (ultrahazardous activities) there is often strict liability imposed, meaning that the plaintiff need not prove any negligence on the part of the NS. Thus, all they need do is show up with their medical bills and charts showing exposure to chlorine and NS will be pulling out the BIG checkbook. Perhaps not everyone will sue, but if you doubt that NS will take responsibility take a look at the news footage of the NS PR guy apologizing to the community on TV. I think they and their insurers will do the right thing. I don’t think they have much choice.
LC
Oh, and perhaps I should have mentioned it before, but I now know it is public.
The NS Engineer was Chris Seeling, he was 28.
R.I.P. Chris.
LC
I live 100 miles from the scene as of 6:21pm EST i listen to a live call in from a rescue worker on talk radio WSC. she reported that the local hospital may be evactuated.There is no wind and the gas is just sitting there. 8 confirmed dead., one was a truck driver sitting at a loading dock at the mill. the dead were as of 1 mile away. NS has set up some kind of hospitailiy tents. they might expand the evacuation up to 5 miles tonight. locals are suffering from breathing problems. local cafes have been donating food to law enforcemant and rescue workers because they had not slept since 3am thursday morning.confirmed open switch to siding hitting one loco and 2 cars.the picture i have from local press looks like centerflow car squashed 3 tank cars.people at decontamination site are told they will have all personal belongings destroyed. i will follow up and let you know.
Limitedclear: How are you holding up?
I’m OK. I’m still kind of shocked actually. I only know a few people in South Carolina. Sad that it had to be one of them. It is always this way. Sadly, the fatalities are usually the last people you’d expect.
LC
Limitedclear: As you know in the forum you’re not alone - We the members of your public aquaintance can see in your posts that you are one that knows the closeness required in that special world of railroading. From this event we as a forum and the rail community are diminished. May we all come to live better and safer in the time that come after this day. It goes without saying that this forum sends its condolences to Cris Seelings’ family as well as to those effected by the events surrounding this tragedy - Roy