Just heard reports that 554 and 273 did a head-on at low speed between Binghamton and Albany, about 6:45 this morning (EST). Anybody (Al?) have any further info on this? Crews reported as having minor injuries. Corey
554 runs Montreal - Philadelphia 273 runs Binghamton - Saratoga Both are CP trains if you consider D&H part of CP I have no further details as yet. I know both engineers and they are senior men with many years of experience.
Heard that one train went through a red signal at a siding, hit the train taking the main. Consist as follows: 554: Soo 6051 Soo 6040 273: CP 5970 StLH 5648 CP 5613 StLH 5690
I hope the crew members are all right. About two years ago we had a run in much like this The one guy ended up being restricted to yard service, and the other just got alot of demerits.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Driver8: The one guy ended up being restricted to yard service,<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>That could be a vacation after working the main-line all the time
I hope fatigue was not a factor in this case! Is crew fatigue really as big a problem as the press has been trying to make out? Hank
Fatigue IS a big part of the railroad scene, especially in the early morning hours. I know that the southbound crew reported for work at Saratoga at midnight and waited there until 2:30 for a taxi to take them north about 8 miles to were their train's previous crew had outlawed. They then ran south making a stop to set off cars at Mohawk Yard and were supposed to pick up some other units. The units had some kind of defects so they eventually did not pick them up and continued south. I was on a work train behind the 554 from Ft Ticonderoga to Saratoga and I can attest that the fog was THICK. I was also running long hood forward following 554 and a deadhead Amtrak consist. Talk about stressful, Restricted Speed in fog is almost impossible.
Even if you are well rested, 0500 can be a tough part of any day. That's when your body temperature is at it's lowest and naturally you want to fall asleep.
