News item from Owego NY along NS's Southern Tier Line... No one injured as train smacks tractor-trailer By Debbie Swartz Press & Sun-Bulletin OWEGO -- No one was injured, but a lot of cleanup and repair work had to be done Thursday after a train crashed into a stalled tractor-trailer in the early morning hours. A tractor-trailer hauling bags of table salt got stuck on the train tracks at the Main Street intersection, said Fire Chief Tom Taft.The jacks that support the trailer when it isn't attached to the tractor cab are likely what snagged on the tracks, he said. The name of the driver was not immediately available, officials said. "He (truck driver) couldn't get it off (the tracks) and he couldn't stop the train in time," Taft said. The collision occurred at approximately 5:20 a.m., he said, which caused the closing of John, Main and Erie streets in the village. The streets reopened later. NYSEG crews repaired poles and wire, Taft said. The railroad gate and signals also needed repair. The accident caused damage to the Canadian Pacific engine, which required a second engine to be summoned to remove the undamaged train cars, Taft said. The tractor cab was ripped from the trailer, destroying the trailer and causing damage to the cab. "The cab may be salvageable," Taft said. 281 Note: There's a large, yellow caution sign at that location that warns low trailers will not clear crossing. Must be somebody missed that one.
Amazing how many times trailer landing gear gets caught. I've always wondered why it can't be designed to retract higher. Oh well. Driver error. I presume they could read? :sad: Boxcab E50
Amazing that no one was killed. This happens all over the place though. Wasn't there one like this in Texas recently? Yep, driver error but I think its time the railroads and the trucking industry got together and worked on these crossings...it would benefit everyone. John
