Train Collision in San Fernando Valley
- Thread starter jazza1281
- Start date
News has came out now that:
20 people dead, most crushed in first carriage
135 injured,
Total of 222 people on train,
They where doing around 40mph each, so a combined force of 80mph,
unknown condition of the freight crew,
This is the worst disaster since 2005, where a fuel soaked SUV was parked on the track and was hit by a train that derailed and collided with a train on the other track, 11 dead, 180 injured,
20 people dead, most crushed in first carriage
135 injured,
Total of 222 people on train,
They where doing around 40mph each, so a combined force of 80mph,
unknown condition of the freight crew,
This is the worst disaster since 2005, where a fuel soaked SUV was parked on the track and was hit by a train that derailed and collided with a train on the other track, 11 dead, 180 injured,
The following trains will not be running/running at full length, untill further notice:
1) Pacific Surfliner Trains (No aternitive transport)
2) Coast Starlight Trains (Begins and ends in Santa Barbara, Aternitive transport to L.A)
3) No trains to texas(Due to hurricane ike)
1) Pacific Surfliner Trains (No aternitive transport)
2) Coast Starlight Trains (Begins and ends in Santa Barbara, Aternitive transport to L.A)
3) No trains to texas(Due to hurricane ike)
jadebullet
might be back?
This is a horrible tragedy. It seems that the first car was telescoped by the engine. This really is horrible. My prayers to the victims and their families. I hate seeing this happen so horribly. I can't wait to find out what happened to cause such a horrible wreck.
kmothersil
New member
The freight crew also got killed to they were two of the twenty that died in the collision. I'm so upset that this happened to both Metrolink and Union Pacific.
My morning paper reported the commuter train was in the "push" mode (loco at the rear - commuter cars leading) and it was the freight loco that telescoped into the commuter car. There has been some concern about using the push mode for safety reasons. I suspect this will crank the discussion about that by a bunch. Our local commuter rail (tri-rail) uses that method as well.
Ben
Ben
Gandalf0444
FVRR member
It's the only relativly cheap way that the commuter railroads can do their operations unless they operate on a circle,or have a turn around on both ends of their lines.....
But it should also matter that they decide if they can use cab cars or not on that line based on whatelse runs on the line,so like if your running with heavy freight traffic along side you,cab cars are not your best bet....if your running on the NEC running with a cab car may be a little bit safer than in other cases etc.
Prowler901
The Silver San Juan
Terrible. I just came from watching the video at CNN. Our prayers to those involved. 
Sounds about right.
The same thing happened back in 1951 (?) during the infamous Thanksgiving Wreck on the Southern at Woodstock, AL, except the second car of the Southerner was telescoped into the passenger section of the combine in front. Never a good thing when it happens.
And if it was human error on the part of the Metrolink driver, what happened to the alerter? :s
jadebullet
might be back?
There probably wasn't an alerter because it was running on freight track and I don't think that they have the equipment for alerters on freight. Correct me if I'm wrong BTW
Its stirred up some talk with TBARTA as well, as they've been contemplating the Push-Pull mode with the bombardier coaches, or another style that meets FRA, FTA, and FL/USDOT requirements/regulations. Although there havent been all that many push-pull accidents. I believe its the dense freight traffic that runs through SoCal that is a contributor. My church is praying for all of them, as well as Ikerz(yes, my nickname is Ike) victims.
Isaac
Isaac
My office in Ventura is next to the tracks. I always look at the trains going by. That afternoon I saw the freighter involved in the collision with I think two nice UP loco's going by with a not too long train of box cars and some hoppers (South bound). it must have been 3 PM. The Metrolink trains normally runs with the engine first North bound. Latest reports indicate that the Metrolink engineer was distracted with teletexting other people , probably train fans that follow trains by that: teletexting! So, it looks like the distraction prevented the engineer to see the red light! Hence my question: Is there a dispatcher somewhere controlling traffic? Do these locomotives have a deadmen system? Is there an automatic braking when a red light is passed? As I understand the freighter was coming down from Santa Susana pass tunnel after passing a siding. Who authorized the freighter to continue pass the siding? a green light? or a radio comunication.. or what. I am sure that all this is being investigated, but if anybody knows answers to any of these questions, let us know. For now I see no trains going by... and I miss them.:'(
bassist118
Suffering for his art.
They should have the same system we have over here, not exactly the aws but when you are coming up to a yellow or red signal a sound will go off in the cab the driver must acknowledge that he has seen the signal by pressing a button in the cab he has 2 - 3 seconds to press the button before the breaks are applied automatically this system would have averted this disaster, perhaps this will prompt the American government to pump more money into rail travel instead of being up oil companies arses.
Until the NTSB completes their investigation of the accident, speculation and rumors should be ignored.
None of us has access to the data recorders and other facts that will be gathered during the NTSB investigation.
Our thoughts and prayers should be with the casualties and injured and their families.