Interesting article -- gives some insight into what happened. http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/0...tic-train-disaster-have-just-begun-to-emerge/ Having worked on the Space Shuttle and Space Station for 35 years, the article's graphic "The Night a Train Destroyed a Town" (National Post) is telling.
So, in essence, this whole thing could have been avoided had a portable derailer been placed at the end of the train. I did not realize it was parked on the mainline.
The article noted in post #41 states "...huge technological catastrophes are almost always the climax of a years-long gauntlet of human error that needed dozens, if not hundreds, of mistakes to pile up without notice." This is the first truly decent attempt to analyze the event, which I have either heard or read, to date.
I though it was a very good analysis of all the factors involved. However, the masses demand a scapegoat to hurl abuse on. The media seems to try their best to provide one.
I thought they provided an excellent graphic that was very informative on how the incident played out. I agree, it is a number of factors, the swiss cheese effect. Anyone can point to one event, but really it was a plethora. Still, as was the case with the Tenerife air disaster, fixing just one of those events could have avoided the disaster, be it a derailer, airbrakes or what have you. A truly sad incident. What I don't get is the CEO's defiant attitude and already stating he plans to continue running trains through the town. Yes, I get that, and understand he will.... but too soon. Let the town greive before providing a statement like that.
Yes. There must be a sacrificial lamb. Guessing that a malicious act or sabotage is eventually ruled out, someone is going to be thrown under the bus. For one, the engineer, who no matter what faces a ruined life. Plus anyone else directly or indirectly involved with that train. Many leaders of the company, if not all, will be raked across the coals- By the courts of law, and the uninformed court of public (far too gullible and easily swayed, blathering, blithering FOOLS) "opinion." As to Ed B speaking, he's damned if he does, and if he somehow maintained silence, he would be damned for that! No matter what, he will be persecuted. And despicably the media in ALL of its forms will feed on this until the end, pretending to be doing some sort of public service, but in reality solely for their own (notoriety and money) profit.
