Bad NEC train accident/derailment

[my3bears]

I drive in Philly all the time but have no sense of direction, aren't they doing a lot of construction near where the train derailed? The last thing I heard was they were thinking something physically was on the tracks that made the train basically jack-knife. I wondered if it was construction debris. After seeing that projectile story LoveTrains, who knows.

I also was wondering if the engineer my have been suicidal. DH was wondering if he was on the internet on his phone and didn't slow the train down in time. Pretty sure that happened somewhat recently in a different train derailment incident?

[erbear]

May 13, 2015 19:56:27 GMT -5 my3bears said:

I drive in Philly all the time but have no sense of direction, aren't they doing a lot of construction near where the train derailed? The last thing I heard was they were thinking something physically was on the tracks that made the train basically jack-knife. I wondered if it was construction debris. After seeing that projectile story LoveTrains, who knows.

I also was wondering if the engineer my have been suicidal. DH was wondering if he was on the internet on his phone and didn't slow the train down in time. Pretty sure that happened somewhat recently in a different train derailment incident?

I can't have this be the case. My husband takes septa every day and I cannot worry about suicidal engineers 

[LoveTrains]

A guy on my Amtrak board is friends with the engineer and says he was not suicidal. It sounds like there might be some things that haven't yet come to light.

Amtrak engineers would be fired for using a phone while driving the train. I doubt he was on his phone.

[msmerymac]

May 13, 2015 19:56:27 GMT -5 my3bears said:

I drive in Philly all the time but have no sense of direction, aren't they doing a lot of construction near where the train derailed? The last thing I heard was they were thinking something physically was on the tracks that made the train basically jack-knife. I wondered if it was construction debris. After seeing that projectile story LoveTrains, who knows.

I also was wondering if the engineer my have been suicidal. DH was wondering if he was on the internet on his phone and didn't slow the train down in time. Pretty sure that happened somewhat recently in a different train derailment incident?

It happened on a Metrolink train in SoCal a few years ago. 

I dunno. I'd think Amtrak has a pretty high standard for engineers. Higher than SEPTA, unfortunately. 

[my3bears]

Hmm, latest this AM sounds like human error on the engineer's part. He refused to give a statement and lawyered up. Mayor Nutter is not happy.

[MrsDarcy]

I just heard on the news that the engineer has no recollection of why he was going so fast or of the crash.

[mainelyfoolish]

May 14, 2015 7:26:23 GMT -5 @choco said:

May 14, 2015 7:18:28 GMT -5 MrsDarcy said:

I just heard on the news that the engineer has no recollection of why he was going so fast or of the crash.

No recollection? Oh man, this is not good.

Isn't that pretty common in traumatic events, though? The accident interrupts the brain's normal process of storing memory so people literally cannot remember what happened right before the accident happened.

[LoveTrains]

May 13, 2015 23:07:20 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

May 13, 2015 19:56:27 GMT -5 my3bears said:

I drive in Philly all the time but have no sense of direction, aren't they doing a lot of construction near where the train derailed? The last thing I heard was they were thinking something physically was on the tracks that made the train basically jack-knife. I wondered if it was construction debris. After seeing that projectile story LoveTrains, who knows.

I also was wondering if the engineer my have been suicidal. DH was wondering if he was on the internet on his phone and didn't slow the train down in time. Pretty sure that happened somewhat recently in a different train derailment incident?

It happened on a Metrolink train in SoCal a few years ago. 

I dunno. I'd think Amtrak has a pretty high standard for engineers. Higher than SEPTA, unfortunately. 

Yes, amtrak is considered the top for folks that want to be passenger rail engineers. Some people start out at Septa and other regional operators and then move to amtrak. 

[LoveTrains]

May 14, 2015 6:18:12 GMT -5 my3bears said:

Hmm, latest this AM sounds like human error on the engineer's part. He refused to give a statement and lawyered up. Mayor Nutter is not happy.

That is what ALL train engineers do in this situation. Of course he refused to give a statement to the PHiladelphia police, which have no authority over the crash and don't understand railroading terms. 

[v]

May 14, 2015 7:53:32 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

May 14, 2015 6:18:12 GMT -5 my3bears said:

Hmm, latest this AM sounds like human error on the engineer's part. He refused to give a statement and lawyered up. Mayor Nutter is not happy.

That is what ALL train engineers do in this situation. Of course he refused to give a statement to the PHiladelphia police, which have no authority over the crash and don't understand railroading terms. 

You'd be an idiot to not lawyer up in this situation even if you have a full recollection and are 100% certain you did nothing wrong.

[AAM2012]

May 14, 2015 8:07:19 GMT -5 v said:

May 14, 2015 7:53:32 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

That is what ALL train engineers do in this situation. Of course he refused to give a statement to the PHiladelphia police, which have no authority over the crash and don't understand railroading terms. 

You'd be an idiot to not lawyer up in this situation even if you have a full recollection and are 100% certain you did nothing wrong.

Agreed.

Also he may not be able to remember what happened due to his injuries.

[Susie]

May 13, 2015 19:56:27 GMT -5 my3bears said:

DH was wondering if he was on the internet on his phone and didn't slow the train down in time. Pretty sure that happened somewhat recently in a different train derailment incident?

I'm pretty sure the engineer of the Spanish train that crashed a couple years ago (also doing twice the speed limit on a curve) was on his phone at the time of the crash.

[LoveTrains]

May 14, 2015 9:28:38 GMT -5 Susie said:

May 13, 2015 19:56:27 GMT -5 my3bears said:

DH was wondering if he was on the internet on his phone and didn't slow the train down in time. Pretty sure that happened somewhat recently in a different train derailment incident?

I'm pretty sure the engineer of the Spanish train that crashed a couple years ago (also doing twice the speed limit on a curve) was on his phone at the time of the crash.

It's possible, I just think something else is going on here. he should have been going 80 mph into the turn, not 100 mph, so that is why I'm puzzled. 

[raangoli]

May 14, 2015 9:41:37 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

May 14, 2015 9:28:38 GMT -5 Susie said:

I'm pretty sure the engineer of the Spanish train that crashed a couple years ago (also doing twice the speed limit on a curve) was on his phone at the time of the crash.

It's possible, I just think something else is going on here. he should have been going 80 mph into the turn, not 100 mph, so that is why I'm puzzled. 

I thought the media has been reporting that the turn should have been taken at 50 mph? Regardless, the train was going faster than it should have been and I hope they can figure out why.

[LoveTrains]

May 14, 2015 10:32:20 GMT -5 raangoli said:

May 14, 2015 9:41:37 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

It's possible, I just think something else is going on here. he should have been going 80 mph into the turn, not 100 mph, so that is why I'm puzzled. 

I thought the media has been reporting that the turn should have been taken at 50 mph? Regardless, the train was going faster than it should have been and I hope they can figure out why.

Sorry for not being clear. The speed limit for the curve is 50 mph. The speed limit for the straightaway before the curve is 80 mph. After coming out of the curve, the speed limit increases to 110 mph.

So at no point should the train have been going 100+ mph between leaving 30th street station and the curve.

[LoveTrains]

May 14, 2015 10:49:17 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

LoveTrains, do the forums give you any idea how long NEC delays/cancellations are going to stretch? I'm booked on a train from NYC to Boston on Sunday and I'm wondering if I'd be better off canceling and booking a bus.

NYC to Boston is running. 

ETA: What train are you on? You can see what numbers have been cancelled (some have been) online. Since they are turning trains in NYP you should be fine because the trains aren't coming from south of NYP. Hope that makes sense. 

[msmerymac]

8th person was found in the wreckage this morning after they brought in cadaver dogs.

[LoveTrains]

May 14, 2015 12:34:22 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

May 14, 2015 11:37:22 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

NYC to Boston is running. 

ETA: What train are you on? You can see what numbers have been cancelled (some have been) online. Since they are turning trains in NYP you should be fine because the trains aren't coming from south of NYP. Hope that makes sense. 

That makes sense, thanks! I'm on NE Regional 194

That's a weekend only train (94 runs during the week) but I think you SHOULD be ok. I would check back continuously, though. 

[Deleted]

May 14, 2015 6:18:12 GMT -5 my3bears said:

Hmm, latest this AM sounds like human error on the engineer's part. He refused to give a statement and lawyered up. Mayor Nutter is not happy.

Honestly, even if I knew I'd done nothing wrong I'd get a lawyer too.  People died, I'd be worried they're looking to blame someone and would twist my words.  The mayor was calling him irresponsible and blaming him before he'd had a chance to make a statement. Plus he's likely still in shock and not thinking clearly, that's exactly when you need a lawyer advocating for you.

[Deleted]

May 13, 2015 21:36:10 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

A guy on my Amtrak board is friends with the engineer and says he was not suicidal. It sounds like there might be some things that haven't yet come to light.

Amtrak engineers would be fired for using a phone while driving the train. I doubt he was on his phone.

People break rules all the time that could get them fired or injured. I have no clue if he was on his phone, but it's certainly not outside of the realm of possibilities to be so doubtful.

Hopefully the investigation does find answers to improve rail safety.

[LoveTrains]

May 14, 2015 14:08:19 GMT -5 @wandering said:

May 13, 2015 21:36:10 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

A guy on my Amtrak board is friends with the engineer and says he was not suicidal. It sounds like there might be some things that haven't yet come to light.

Amtrak engineers would be fired for using a phone while driving the train. I doubt he was on his phone.

People break rules all the time that could get them fired or injured. I have no clue if he was on his phone, but it's certainly not outside of the realm of possibilities to be so doubtful.

Hopefully the investigation does find answers to improve rail safety.

That is true that people break rules all the time. I guess I am just trying to give this guy the benefit of the doubt based on what a trusted poster told me on another board that is personally friends with the engineer. 

I will wait for the investigation to come out before jumping to conclusions and dragging this guy through the mud. Apparently his mother is already receiving death threats from the internet mafia. 

[my3bears]

May 14, 2015 14:06:51 GMT -5 @randomcdn said:

May 14, 2015 6:18:12 GMT -5 my3bears said:

Hmm, latest this AM sounds like human error on the engineer's part. He refused to give a statement and lawyered up. Mayor Nutter is not happy.

Honestly, even if I knew I'd done nothing wrong I'd get a lawyer too.  People died, I'd be worried they're looking to blame someone and would twist my words.  The mayor was calling him irresponsible and blaming him before he'd had a chance to make a statement. Plus he's likely still in shock and not thinking clearly, that's exactly when you need a lawyer advocating for you.

Yeah there is definitely some conflicting info about if he isn't being cooperative or if he's just in shock. Being in shock makes sense given everything. Apparently his phone was off and in his bag, and he did give a blood test to rule out drugs/alcohol. It's a shame that Positive Control or whatever safety feature hadn't been installed yet. Ugh.

[LoveTrains]

It's called PTC and until congress decides to give amtrak more money, this is what we get.