LA commuter train wreck

cirquelover · 09-13-2008, 12:06 AM

This looks absolutely horrible: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26680908

I hope everyone here is safe.

Disneyphile · 09-13-2008, 01:51 AM

I just saw a repeat of the 11 o'clock news. OMG.

It's just so tragic... people going home from work for the weekend. And it appears like it could have been avoided. It should have been. It's communication gone horribly wrong. I hope it was just equipment malfunction and not human error, because if someone didn't do their job...... ugh.

CoasterMatt · 09-13-2008, 09:34 AM

The accident was very close to our home - there were so many helicopters overhead, it sounded like a Vietnam War movie.

There was a lot of stupid speculation passed off as news by the pathetic excuse for a news team known as KABC 7.

But the thing I must raise a glass to - we've got THE BEST emergency response teams anywhere - there was a great deal of interagency communication and cooperation, and this horrible situation was handled spectacularly.

Snowflake · 09-13-2008, 10:48 AM

I'm glad you're okay CM & MMG, when I saw Chatsworth, I was worried.

Also glad to know Euro was not on the train, either!

Gn2Dlnd · 09-13-2008, 02:42 PM

So, Metrolink is saying their driver (who did not survive the crash) failed to stop for a red signal.

Current death toll at 24.

Kevy Baby · 09-13-2008, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gn2Dlnd

So, Metrolink is saying their driver (who did not survive the crash) failed to stop for a red signal.

Something tells me that Denise Tyrell will have a different job next week for coming out with this info so soon.

And if anybody cares, here is a satellite view of where the accident was. The grass area on the right is the triage area you see in news footage and I believe the point of impact is right around the middle of this screen. Most of the ground shots are coming from the upper right of the screen and the early shots were taken from Topanga Canyon Blvd about where it goes over the tracks.

~MS~ · 09-13-2008, 04:04 PM

Actually she did a smart thing stepping up and releasing that information before it got leaked. Hubby worked for Union Pacific for 30 years, the number of people who know what went wrong within hours is enough to have the potential for leaks and even more speculation. Signals are activated by the trains making the connection on that specific part of the track. computers let dispatch know where every train on the track is and tells the trains who has to pull over and wait for an oncoming train. One of the first things that happened in the discovery process was they had signal maintainers out there checking all the signals to make sure they were in proper operational status matching what the computer registered. The fact that it was human error was apparent in short order. My heart goes out to all the victims but I find it ironic that not one mention of the lost of the freight crew has been made in any report I've read, 3 crew were aboard that engine and I'm 99.9 percent sure all 3 perished.

Stan4dSteph · 09-13-2008, 05:07 PM

There was a mention today in the LA Times that the most recent victim removed was possibly the engineer of the UP freight train. The article said that UP had not made a statement, and that it was difficult going trying to cut through the wreckage to reach the areas where there might still be survivors. Perhaps they haven't said anything because they haven't recovered the UP crew yet, and there is a very slim possibility that they are alive. Just a thought.

It's too bad the rail system in this country is so underdeveloped. Freight and passenger trains having to share the same rails is what causes huge Amtrak delays on the lines out this way.

~MS~ · 09-13-2008, 05:14 PM

I believe in Miracles but even I don't hold out hope that any of the UP crew survived...I've been up in the cab of an engine and taking that into account as I looked at the damage, while anything can happen if I knew my spouse was on that train I would presume the worst case scenario.

CoasterMatt · 09-13-2008, 05:14 PM

Ironically, the NIMBYs in the area are now screaming that they didn't like the "multiple tracks" - because they'd mean more accidents -

No, not allowing rail systems to be built with seperate tracks instead of mixed use rail with sidings allows more chance for accidents.

09-13-2008, 12:06 AM	#1
cirquelover Cruising around in my automobile... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,617	LA commuter train wreck This looks absolutely horrible: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26680908 I hope everyone here is safe.
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09-13-2008, 01:51 AM	#2
Disneyphile SQUIRREL! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: On the curbside. Posts: 5,098	I just saw a repeat of the 11 o'clock news. OMG. It's just so tragic... people going home from work for the weekend. And it appears like it could have been avoided. It should have been. It's communication gone horribly wrong. I hope it was just equipment malfunction and not human error, because if someone didn't do their job...... ugh. Last edited by Disneyphile : 09-13-2008 at 02:01 AM.
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09-13-2008, 09:34 AM	#3
CoasterMatt BRAAAAAAAINS! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: One Step Beyond... Posts: 8,802	The accident was very close to our home - there were so many helicopters overhead, it sounded like a Vietnam War movie. There was a lot of stupid speculation passed off as news by the pathetic excuse for a news team known as KABC 7. But the thing I must raise a glass to - we've got THE BEST emergency response teams anywhere - there was a great deal of interagency communication and cooperation, and this horrible situation was handled spectacularly. __________________ Do you like my photography? Visit photosbymatt.tumblr.com to purchase prints!
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09-13-2008, 10:48 AM	#4
Snowflake lost in the fog Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 7,831	I'm glad you're okay CM & MMG, when I saw Chatsworth, I was worried. Also glad to know Euro was not on the train, either! __________________ Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. - Oscar Wilde
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09-13-2008, 02:42 PM	#5
Gn2Dlnd Parmmadore Jim Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Casita del Queso Posts: 3,810	So, Metrolink is saying their driver (who did not survive the crash) failed to stop for a red signal. Current death toll at 24. __________________ Does anyone still wear a hat?
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09-13-2008, 04:04 PM	#7
~MS~ One Happy little Missy! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 658	Actually she did a smart thing stepping up and releasing that information before it got leaked. Hubby worked for Union Pacific for 30 years, the number of people who know what went wrong within hours is enough to have the potential for leaks and even more speculation. Signals are activated by the trains making the connection on that specific part of the track. computers let dispatch know where every train on the track is and tells the trains who has to pull over and wait for an oncoming train. One of the first things that happened in the discovery process was they had signal maintainers out there checking all the signals to make sure they were in proper operational status matching what the computer registered. The fact that it was human error was apparent in short order. My heart goes out to all the victims but I find it ironic that not one mention of the lost of the freight crew has been made in any report I've read, 3 crew were aboard that engine and I'm 99.9 percent sure all 3 perished. __________________ "Sometimes Miracles Hide"
	Submit to Quotes

09-13-2008, 05:07 PM	#8
Stan4dSteph Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: East Bay Area, CA Posts: 3,156	There was a mention today in the LA Times that the most recent victim removed was possibly the engineer of the UP freight train. The article said that UP had not made a statement, and that it was difficult going trying to cut through the wreckage to reach the areas where there might still be survivors. Perhaps they haven't said anything because they haven't recovered the UP crew yet, and there is a very slim possibility that they are alive. Just a thought. It's too bad the rail system in this country is so underdeveloped. Freight and passenger trains having to share the same rails is what causes huge Amtrak delays on the lines out this way.
	Submit to Quotes

09-13-2008, 05:14 PM	#9
~MS~ One Happy little Missy! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 658	I believe in Miracles but even I don't hold out hope that any of the UP crew survived...I've been up in the cab of an engine and taking that into account as I looked at the damage, while anything can happen if I knew my spouse was on that train I would presume the worst case scenario. __________________ "Sometimes Miracles Hide"
	Submit to Quotes