Great Smoky Mountains Railroad vs Tour Bus

Hardcoaler Aug 25, 2017

  1. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad made the news on Tuesday when a tour bus ignored a GSMR passenger train at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in western NC. The line is a former SOU branch. The bus was loaded with 9th Graders; injuries were minor. It appears the railroad has been absolved of any blame.

    It's evident the driver isn't a railfan. How could the driver have ignored a classic GP-30 with such nicely styled nose striping? The unit is former AT&SF.

    [Photo from the Smoky Mountain Times]

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  2. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Glad to read that all are safe.
     
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  3. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    We had a tour bus driver who decided to take his senior citizen passengers on a more scenic route than the one given him by management. He high-centered the bus on CSX mainline track. Train approaching at 50 MPH. He opened the door and yelled for people to get off. The train, now down to about 20, hit the bus, moving it down the track a couple hundred yards. There were many major injuries, but only four died...those on the ground or on the steps leaving as instructed. Unfortunately for the driver, he survived, though facing four manslaughter charges, and multiple mayhem(?) charges.
     
  4. fitz

    fitz TrainBoard Member

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    Boy, that could have been much worse. People just seem to ignore the fact that trains operate on those tracks.
     
  5. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    No, this yawhoo ignored a High Grade Crossing warning sign with a high-center graphic a half block back at the last intersection forbidding long vehicles from crossing the tracks. Had nothing to do with ignoring the trains. So in addition to the manslaughter and mayhem charges, he is facing reckless endangerment, reckless driving, and a myriad of other related charges. Plus his company fired him as of the time of impact. Sadly, the local paper was questioning why the city had not made safer crossings, ignoring the fact that crossings are the responsibility of the railroads, with the cities responsible for the approaches under state DOT direction and approval. so nobody is clean with this crossing, and all others like it. We probably have 20-30 high center crossings across the 76 miles of coastal Mississippi, and nobody is doing a darn thing to improve them. The public comment by responsible individuals remains "Oh, isn't it awful. Why don't "THEY" do something about it?"
     
  6. fitz

    fitz TrainBoard Member

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    Hank, I agree. My post was in response to the original post. Sorry.
     
  7. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    True then, true now. [not my photo]

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