Train Mating.

[Mahnarch]

Today, 11/30/07, an Am-Trak passenger train hit (and mounted) a freight train in Chicago, Illinois.

Now, how fast does a train have to go to lift and mount a boxed car of another? Phil?

I thought train lines were more regulated than flight travel?
Now, I'm not so sure about landing at Tulip City.....

[Phil]

Believe it or not the train doesn't have to be moving all that fast. They're saying 15-20 and I believe it. Don't forget the cars give a train an awful lot of force and it takes about a mile for a train to stop. And that's a panic stop.

Yes they are suppose to be regulated. Just like airplanes but once in a while something goes wrong or it takes longer than planned and something like this takes place.

The only problem is if you're on a plane, in a car, or even a boat you have soem swirve ability.

A train only has the tracks to guide it and you can't really zig or zag to avoid a disaster.

Any other vehicle nomatter how cumbersome has that option.

There's a chance I could get called to that. Doubtful because Chicago has so much staff in the surrounding area but if I get called to that you won't see me at Lewasite for a few days. But I'll have some storys. I'll bring my JVC if I do have to go to that.

[dannyboy]

Is there any well.....

Suppose a train is stopped where it shouldn't be and another is coming. But it's a few miles off what can they do to prevent this, Assuming they know there's a collision course?

[Mahnarch]

Yeah, Phil.

Do trains use CB type communication?
Comm links?

What if a diesel engine breaks down and the electrical generator runs out of juice in the middle of a dessert stretch?

What's the word on getting me a train horn?

***

Also, I just found out that a co=workers mother was on the Am-Trak.
She busted up her nose, pretty bad.

Look for a 'Witte' in the passenger log.

[Blastgirl]

It's scary that you just never know when a disaster can strike. It's a lucky thing there weren't more serious injures.

[Phil]

Yeah Mahnarch there's a lot of communication on railroad house to train methods. There's even a little heads up, they can rerroute a train. There's turn-offs that kind of move the train aside like you might see on a highway restarea.

If there's none something like this happens. Most of the time within a few miles there's a runaway set of tracks to move the oncoming train aside.
They do the same thing if they have a right of way issue. A northbound train takes priority over a southbound train and an Eastbound has priority over a westbound.

That way the powers that be know who to steer aside and there's no 'what if this happens?' to deal with.

I didn't get sent out there I guess there's enough local help. I have been sent to help during situations similar though.

Because of things though I did have to pull a double tonight it's 9pm and I just woke up a few minutes ago. About a half hour ago.

[Classicblast]

Does that require a lot of staff? I could understand if it derailed and spilled things or the fire in Kentucky you posted about once but I would think this one needs a crane and some guys to move the cars out of the way. Maybe that's an ignorant observation by me I'm not sure.

[Mahnarch]

*ahem*.......

Phil....what's the deal with the train horn, man?
You're avoiding the question. I can feel it!

LOOK! There's an engine that won't be used, anymore! How about steali....errr, "borrowing" those ones? ;D

[Phil]

I'll see what I can do about the horn. Its not so easy. 'Borrowing?'

[Mahnarch]

LOL. Don't let me down, man.

[Phil]

mahnarch said:

LOL. Don't let me down, man.

I shall try my level best.