Metrolink Train Seperates during Commute

[ten87]

I'm so glad to see this new area for commuter trains. I thought I'd share an incident that happened on my commute not too long ago (2-23-00). I was taking the early train home so there were only about 15 people on the whole train. I was in the first car with two other passengers. I was seated at the table over the trailing truck. As we passed the grade crossing there was a huge BANG under my seat, and I jumped up in surprise. I looked toward the rear door (five feet away) just in time to see the diaphragm rip apart and MU cables fly out. The last two cars separated from the train and I felt like an astronaut watching the landing module drift away. The lights went out and we came to a stop. By the time the rear two cars stopped rolling, they were about 200 yards behind us. After a few minutes with no contact from the train crew, I opened the rear door and looked out. Something had bounced up under the truck and nailed the lever used to uncouple the cars. The rubber seals on the diaphragm had been ripped to shreds, and one whole piece was hanging down on the roadbed. I put the temporary gate across the open door so no one would fall out (but more so I could lean on it and watch the show). I stood in the open doorway as we backed up and recoupled with the stray cars (I was directly over the couplers, looking down on them). Everyone from the 1st car then went into the trailing cars and after an hour or so we limped into Orange Station, where after another hour, an OCTA bus arrived to take us to our destination stations. What a ride! ...Ed

[This message has been edited by ten87 (edited 15 April 2000).]