From my home town..... RALEIGH, N.C. -- Authorities say two people are dead after a collision involving a dump truck and an Amtrak train. An Amtrak train from Charlotte to New York hit a dump truck Tuesday. Multiple injuries have been reported. The accident occurred around 12:35 p.m. Tuesday near Rush Street in South Raleigh. The train, from Charlotte, had just left a Raleigh station headed for New York when it hit a dump truck that was filled with gravel. Authorities say the truck was headed west on Rush Street when it collided with train, which was headed south. A preliminary investigation shows that the crossing lights and gates were working. For some reason, authorities said, the driver drove around the safety gate. The collision knocked several cars off the tracks and upended the dump truck. Police said the two occupants in the dump truck died in the accident: Chris McCullough, 34, of Garner; and Keith Spence, 33, of Raleigh. Officials said there were 196 passengers on the train. At least 15 people, ranging in age from 11 months to 85 years old, were taken to WakeMed with minor injuries that included back pain, face pain, leg pain, and abdominal pain. Emergency officials said the injuries are pretty typical with the type of accident in which they were involved. Passengers who were not injured were taken by bus to the Raleigh Convention and Conference Center until they could board another train. The remaining 182 passengers from the train who were not injured were taken by bus to the Raleigh Convention and Conference Center. The passengers were transported to the convention center because the Amtrak facility in Raleigh was not large enough to accommodate the group. The convention center staff and the American Red Cross provided water and refreshments to the passengers. The accident is still under investigation. Rush Street between Hammond and Old Garner roads is closed to traffic. Motorists are advised to avoid the area. The closure will be in effect until the scene is cleared, which could be sometime Wednesday. The train, The Carolinian, travels from New York to Charlotte with 26 stops; 11 of them, including Durham, Cary and Raleigh, are in North Carolina. Anyone needing information on family or friends who may have been traveling on the train can call Amtrak at (800) 523-9101. More at: http://www.wral.com/news/4799648/detail.html Harold
Looks like the right side windscreen is out on the Amtrak engine. It did derail a car; I couldn't tell about the engine.
I just realized, the same thing happened in Greece on Monday. http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100024_02/08/2005_59260. It's Darwinism in action!
I'm sad that anyone died, or was injured. But gates and lights mean S-T-O-P!!!!! Shows that no matter what railroads do for safety, it can still fail, because of vehicle drivers being foolish. What will it take? Perhaps a reinforced brick wall that sets up? A crane device that lifts automobile wheels off the ground, so they can't move across the tracks? Boxcab E50
I saw a heavy steel barricade roll across the entire roadway and lock into a steel capture device at the opposite side of the road in Rhudesheim, Germany a few years back. I was told that this was a fairly common practice throughout Europe, and that the costs were shared by the municipalities and federal governments. Of course, most European railroads are government funded, except in the UK. I doubt if this type of device would ever be installed in the US since (1) the railroads are for-profit private corporations, (2) the public feels that railroads are responsible for all protection devices and accidents, and (3) the Federal Government just barely subsidizes railroads, compared to airlines and highways. (see this month's Trains for a comparison of Federal transportation subsidies.)
Hank- Having been involved with transportation consultants, I have watched the subsidies for years. Which is why it's so infuriating when someone writes negatively about Amtrak. Every such article proves to me the author's illiteracy. If they'd ever do some unbiased research first.... Boxcab E50
Actually, there are two grade crossings with gates like that here in Madison, both on the Wisconsin & Southern. I'll see if I can get a photo of one of them this weekend (although probably not in operation as the tracks on which they're installed see only a few trains per week on average, and never when I'm in a position to photograph them ). One of them is installed just two blocks from the main Wisconsin DOT office.
A fellow railfan of mine got these pics of the crash site: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=114355 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=114354 It was an unfortunate event for many people, all because of one stupid driver who committed an illegal act Harold
They are govt. funded in the UK as well, Privatisation doesn't mean that you can run all passenger services at a profit sadly.
We need more TV spots like these from Australia. http://www.transport.sa.gov.au/safety/rail/media/advert1.wmv http://www.transport.sa.gov.au/safety/rail/media/advert2.wmv
Persuasive! Mostly in English, too! (Small joke there for our Aussie friends!) [ August 04, 2005, 02:37 PM: Message edited by: sapacif ]
Hey Russ, That 1st video reminded me of a film NJT did.That girl reminded me of the woman crossing in front of a BN stopped & she gets wiped out by a express on the next track.The guy that was filming the trains got hit by the body. Maybe its the engineer in me,or the fact I've had my share of incidents like this,but I don't feel sorry for the driver of the truck.He went around the gates.I do feel very bad for the passenger.He had no control over the situation. I also feel very bad for the engineer,who for the rest of his life will replay the accident in his mind over & over.Although the pain eases over time,every time he passes that crossing,it will replay again.Just imagine what went threw his mind when, from out of nowhere there a loaded truck in your path & there's really nothing you can do to avoid an accident.Tack on you moving about 60mph with close to as million pounds of steel behind you.
Thanks Martyn, I didn't realize that. I had assumed that the UK RR companies operated more like the US airlines...private, but using gov't facilities and infrastructure. That in contrast to SNCF, DB, SSB, etc. that are gov't owned, funded, and operated by gov't employees.
Very powerful commercials! However, as a modeler, I take offense at the statement: "Don't play with trains" Harold
Update: ********************* At present, the following is the plan for disposition of the equipment from derailed Train 80(2); Non-derailed cars 82506, 82561, 82508 moving today, Aug. 5, on Train 73 to Charlotte, to be added to Train 80(6). Derailed cars 26032, 28357, 82033 to be rewheeled at NS yard in Raleigh, then will require inspection prior to further movement. Derailed Baggage 1704 probably to be scrapped on site account major structural damage. Engine 69 to be inspected per FRA requirements to approve release for rewheeling and movement dead-in-train in freight service to Beech Grove shops for storage. Possible release to be early next week. Estimated damage to equipment: $650,000; to infrastructrue, $8,000. --- End forwarded message ---
