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Conference back40::soapbox

Title:Soapbox. Just Soapbox.
Notice:No more new notes
Moderator:WAHOO::LEVESQUEONS
Created:Thu Nov 17 1994
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:862
Total number of notes:339684

665.0. "Train Wrecks" by USAT05::HALLR (God loves even you!) Thu Feb 29 1996 01:07

    Probably deserving a note of its own...
    
    discuss the recent splash of train wrecks and what to do about them?
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665.1MOLAR::DELBALSOI (spade) my (dogface)Thu Feb 29 1996 01:274
To quote Shelley Berman -

	Flying is the safest way to fly.

665.2CSLALL::HENDERSONWe shall behold Him!Thu Feb 29 1996 01:3010


 Actually, I love train travel.  I've taken a few Amtrak cross country
 trips and loved them (despite some delays on on trip).  I'd love to take
 another.



 Jim
665.3USAT05::HALLRGod loves even you!Thu Feb 29 1996 01:314
    In Silver Spring, MD about 10 days ago, a MARC train ran into an AMTRAK
    train leaving Union Station in DC for Chicago...11 people died
    including 8 kids...preliminary investigation centering on conductor
    error with speed and missing an apparent yellow signal
665.4CSLALL::HENDERSONWe shall behold Him!Thu Feb 29 1996 01:3411


 Sounds like, with flying, they've got the technology for keeping it safe
 but they just can't seem to get the human error stuff out of the equation.





 JIm
665.5:-)USAT05::HALLRGod loves even you!Thu Feb 29 1996 01:362
    Not only that Jim, but if humans just weren't humans, we'd have fewer
    problems like that!
665.6CSLALL::HENDERSONWe shall behold Him!Thu Feb 29 1996 01:365



 I thik you're on to something there!
665.7SMURF::BINDERManus Celer DeiThu Feb 29 1996 13:536
    .4
    
    Except maybe when they use those French turboprops in an area where
    there could be wing icing.  There have been several crashes when the
    things turned turtle unrecoverably and augered in.  They're now
    placarded for icing conditions.
665.8CONSLT::MCBRIDEKeep hands & feet inside ride at all timesThu Feb 29 1996 14:171
    I'm agin 'em.
665.9AIMHI::RAUHI survived the Cruel SpaThu Feb 29 1996 18:312
    If man was ment to ride the rail, he would have been born with steel
    wheels vs rubber wheels. :)
665.10POWDML::HANGGELIHappy 35th Birthday, FredericThu Feb 29 1996 18:383
    
    Keep trying, George.
    
665.11AIMHI::RAUHI survived the Cruel SpaThu Feb 29 1996 18:571
    One thing you can always give me credit for... trying....;)
665.12POWDML::HANGGELIHappy 35th Birthday, FredericThu Feb 29 1996 18:595
    
    Yes, George, when I think of your notes, I DO tend to think of the word
    "trying" 8^))).
    
    
665.13Smarty pants! :)AIMHI::RAUHI survived the Cruel SpaThu Feb 29 1996 19:081
    
665.14Yep...CSC32::SCHIMPFSat Mar 02 1996 03:401
    They happen...
665.15USAT05::HALLRGod loves even you!Sat Mar 02 1996 11:126
    Safety has once again taken a back seat to the dollar...Many rr
    employees off the record complain about doing whatever it takes to
    "stay on the schedule", even at the risk of a promotion.
    
    My uncle worked 35 yrs for one of the rails which will remain nameless. 
    Some of the horros stories of what actually went on is appalling
665.16CSC32::M_EVANScuddly as a cactusSat Mar 02 1996 19:3211
    Cabooses, which enabled people to "dump the air" on the brake systems
    of runaway trans have been mad "obsolete" by the EOT.  However the EOT's
    will not be equipped with the ability to dump the air from the back of
    trains to help in cases of runaways for another couple of years.  1998
    or so.  
    
    One has to wonder if there had been a caboose and attendent brakeperson
    on the end of the train in Tennesee pass if this accident could have
    been avoided, as well as thers that involve braking and cold weather.  
    
    meg
665.17ah; memories....BSS::PROCTOR_RA wallet full of onesMon Mar 04 1996 19:227
    >  Cabooses, which enabled people to "dump the air" on the brake
    systems.
    
    The cabooses I remember had terlets in 'em that allowed people to "dump
    IN the air".. and alongside the tracks.
    
    neat stuff.