BS: amtrak derailment

Subject: RE: BS: amtrak derailment
From: Rapparee
Date: 19 Dec 17 - 09:14 AM

The news is now reporting that the train was traveling 80 mph in a 30 mph zone. Earlier reports said that there might have been something on the track that shouldn't have been there.

Subject: RE: BS: amtrak derailment
From: Donuel
Date: 19 Dec 17 - 09:13 AM

The engineer survived.





So did
Bruce Willis

Subject: RE: BS: amtrak derailment
From: ripov
Date: 18 Dec 17 - 08:21 PM

47? 4'55.32"N    122?40'32.77"W    Pasted into google earth search box will take you there.
A lot of the news pictures are too close to get an overall idea of the event, but it looks as though the loco came off the track before the bridge, taking half the train with it, and the following coaches jack-knived.
My condolences also, to those who have lost family; and sympathy to the train-crew who will never forget what has happened. From a fellow railwayman.

Subject: RE: BS: amtrak derailment
From: mg
Date: 18 Dec 17 - 05:44 PM

i don't think speeds per se are too much of the problem. problem is constant delays due to flooding, freight trains, checking the tracks, and mostly mudslides. if they could contain the mudslides, and part of it is housing up on top of hillsides, things would be way better.

Subject: RE: BS: amtrak derailment
From: mg
Date: 18 Dec 17 - 05:37 PM

guy from olympia just came to my office. i asked what he knew and he said curve was a 30 mph curve and he heard that on the news. this must be confirmed. he also said the next train would have had hundreds of people on it...78 people on a train is abnormally low in a holiday week..or any time whatsoever....

Subject: RE: BS: amtrak derailment
From: keberoxu
Date: 18 Dec 17 - 05:27 PM

The news reports are also saying
that, regardless of the quality of the transport,
the passenger trains between Seattle and Portland
have been under pressure for years to increase their speeds.

Subject: RE: BS: amtrak derailment
From: mg
Date: 18 Dec 17 - 05:26 PM

i think this is not the normal route. it is a new route that was underused before and was upgraded. this was the first run apparently of direct portland to seattle runs..thought it was just over holidays but maybe not. good thing it was first run because otherwise train would have been just packed. only 78 passengers on this run....

big problem is freight lines having precedence on railways. bottom line is we need dual railways for freight and passenger I think. and i firmly think never ever turn loose of a railroad right of way or remove track for bike paths or whatever. fill in if not needed with something removeable in case a need develops. not sure but i think that is a problem in the everett wa area with its constant mudslides..there was another route possible but no more right of way or i could be wrong on this.

anyway, amtrak is run probably equivalent to a corrupt communist committee...

Subject: RE: BS: amtrak derailment
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Dec 17 - 05:07 PM

That's what happens when all of the Interstate transport money is spent on highways for trucking and cars and none of it to upgrade and maintain the railroads (which would be a much more efficient method of moving goods and people).

Subject: BS: amtrak derailment
From: mg
Date: 18 Dec 17 - 04:36 PM

My condolences to families involved in this. Thank God it happened close to Ft. Lewis and there were trained rescuers who jumped into the fray. I don't know enough yet...I travel that route or the old route often. Amtrak is unbelievably incompetent in the simplest matters. There are doors to toilets in the seattle station broken for months. If you can't fix a toilet door can you run a train? Every time I reluctantly take the train it stalls for some reason. it is not well run at all. If you must take Amtrak, count on them running out of food and water, toilets not working etc. Think of it as a camping trip.... I think I am going to cancel my Christmas trip as it is the only reasonable way for me to travel right now...