Re: Hello Lion! (1170972) | |
Home > SubChat |
[ Post a New Response | Return to the Index ]
[1 2] |
||
Page 2 of 2 |
(1172399) | |
Re: Hello Lion! |
|
Posted by Nilet on Tue Aug 14 17:42:12 2012, in response to Re: Hello Lion!, posted by Broadway Lion on Tue Aug 14 17:00:49 2012. I promised I'd post, so I posted! :)Sorry about the funeral, but glad it's not yours. Any day you're alive is a good day, right? |
|
(1172407) | |
Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!) |
|
Posted by Nilet on Tue Aug 14 18:13:52 2012, in response to Here We Go, posted by Nilet on Mon Aug 6 16:35:45 2012. Apparently, a truck attempted to beat a freight train to a grade crossing. I don't suppose people will ever learn? No? Sigh.Last report we heard was about 30 freight cars on the ground and the track completely torn up as of yesterday morning; the Empire Builder I'm currently riding was held in Minot for a few hours, then in Stanley, ND for an hour more; we're now just short of the derailment site and while information is a bit sparse it appears they've repaired the track but haven't finished inspecting it. When we arrived in Minot, the initial report said we'd be there until 3 PM, so the conductor announced we were "expected to be here until 3, but may leave earlier." Apparently, many people decided to use the expected multi-hour layover to walk into town and go shopping; when the dispatcher told us to move around noon, we waited for as many people as we could but quite a few people got Duffill'd; a few were spotted running for the train as we pulled out, while some probably just got back to the station to find the train missing. On the plus side, of all the places to be stuck for hours on end, circumstance seems to have picked one that has 4G LTE service, so I have an internet to keep me busy, as does everyone else with the foresight to have brought a smartphone. Except for the Apple fanbois. Their phones don't have LTE service. And so, I can post on SubChat and also post some of the many photos I have taken thus far. Like so: Here's the Empire Builder at Minot. And again at Stanley, ND. And lunch on board. (Yes, I brought my own egg cream onto the train.) |
|
(1172413) | |
Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!) |
|
Posted by 3-9 on Tue Aug 14 18:19:45 2012, in response to Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!), posted by Nilet on Tue Aug 14 18:13:52 2012. I really feel sorry for the people who missed the train. What are they going to do? Also, did the train blow the whistle or otherwise signal the people that it would be leaving? |
|
(Sponsored) |
iPhone 6 (4.7 Inch) Premium PU Leather Wallet Case - Red w/ Floral Interior - by Notch-It
|
(1172418) | |
Re: Hello Lion! |
|
Posted by Olog-hai on Tue Aug 14 18:33:39 2012, in response to Re: Hello Lion!, posted by Broadway Lion on Tue Aug 14 17:00:49 2012. we hare having a funeral here, fortunately it is not mineYou were planning to post from your own funeral? |
|
(1172419) | |
Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!) |
|
Posted by Nilet on Tue Aug 14 18:41:14 2012, in response to Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!), posted by 3-9 on Tue Aug 14 18:19:45 2012. Oh, yes. Two whistles, conductors shouting "ALL ABOARD," and (from the chatter I heard) attendants running out and shouting at the people who might have missed both.The problem was, people had walked off; while the conductor had warned we "may be leaving earlier," some people only heard "we expect to be here until 3" and had left the station, gone into town, etc, and were nowhere nearby when we were given the signal to leave. We stopped at Stanley for about an hour, and we're still stuck less than 20 miles from Stanley now (5:30 PM, central time) so the people who got left had plenty of time to catch up at Stanley or meet us at Williston when we finally get there; I don't think the conductor will let anybody board here in Middle of Nowhere, ND though, despite the road that appears to run parallel to the track. |
|
(1172426) | |
Train Wreck (some more photos!) |
|
Posted by Nilet on Tue Aug 14 19:10:46 2012, in response to Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!), posted by Nilet on Tue Aug 14 18:13:52 2012. When they said 30 freight cars on the ground, they weren't kidding! The tracks were rebuilt but the wreck is still there. |
|
(1172427) | |
Re: Train Wreck (some more photos!) |
|
Posted by Henry R32 #3730 on Tue Aug 14 19:14:46 2012, in response to Train Wreck (some more photos!), posted by Nilet on Tue Aug 14 19:10:46 2012. I'm curious, is the truck driver/company responsible for the property damage? I always wonder how it works when one party's irresponsibility directly causes what looks like hundreds of thousands of $ in damage... |
|
(1172429) | |
Re: Train Wreck (some more photos!) |
|
Posted by Nilet on Tue Aug 14 19:23:36 2012, in response to Re: Train Wreck (some more photos!), posted by Henry R32 #3730 on Tue Aug 14 19:14:46 2012. I would expect the trucking company is responsible; companies are liable for damage caused by their employees during the course of their duties. I don't know if the truck driver survived, and I doubt he'd have any assets to seize anyway.Although it would be highly ironic if the trucking company turned out to be owned by BNSF or Berkshire Hathaway. |
|
(1172433) | |
Re: Train Wreck (some more photos!) |
|
Posted by SelkirkTMO on Tue Aug 14 19:35:59 2012, in response to Train Wreck (some more photos!), posted by Nilet on Tue Aug 14 19:10:46 2012. Wow ... LION goes shopping! :) |
|
(1172446) | |
Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!) |
|
Posted by Broadway Lion on Tue Aug 14 20:14:24 2012, in response to Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!), posted by Nilet on Tue Aug 14 18:41:14 2012. "so the people who got left had plenty of time to catch up at Stanley or meet us at WillistonExcept for one small problem... AMTK is the only public carrier up there. No buses on HWY 2. A cab from, Minot to Williston? Pricy, and probably not possible. No direct air service up there either. All Flights from up there go to DENVER! |
|
(1172503) | |
Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!) |
|
Posted by chud1 on Wed Aug 15 04:20:29 2012, in response to Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!), posted by Nilet on Tue Aug 14 18:13:52 2012. yum, yum on da sandwich and excellent pictures.chud1 |
|
(1172504) | |
Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!) |
|
Posted by 3-9 on Wed Aug 15 04:33:34 2012, in response to Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!), posted by Broadway Lion on Tue Aug 14 20:14:24 2012. I was thinking they could grab a cab to the next stop or so. If that's not possible, they would be totally screwed. |
|
(1172505) | |
Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!) |
|
Posted by SelkirkTMO on Wed Aug 15 04:38:33 2012, in response to Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!), posted by Broadway Lion on Tue Aug 14 20:14:24 2012. I'm going to guess that this might be a lesson to "pay attention to announcements." :) |
|
(1172507) | |
Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!) |
|
Posted by 3-9 on Wed Aug 15 04:45:15 2012, in response to Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!), posted by Nilet on Tue Aug 14 18:41:14 2012. I was thinking, they could have blown the whistle multiple sequences, if they had the time. Tell the passengers that the whistle will be blown at 1/2 hour (once), then 15 min (twice), then 5 min prior to departure (three times). The whistle can be heard pretty far, so that would give people who wandered a bit too far time to get back to the train without running. |
|
(1172534) | |
Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!) |
|
Posted by Nilet on Wed Aug 15 10:25:59 2012, in response to Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!), posted by Broadway Lion on Tue Aug 14 20:14:24 2012. Possible; some people did manage to find a cab. Rumour is Amtrak paid for it. |
|
(1172537) | |
Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!) |
|
Posted by Broadway Lion on Wed Aug 15 10:39:49 2012, in response to Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!), posted by 3-9 on Wed Aug 15 04:33:34 2012. A Cab?I suppose there are cabs in Minot. Mileage is 55c/mile just for car usage and does not cover the driver's time or the companies profit. Figure a dollar a mile. To the next stop is about 70 miles ($140.00 round trip for the cabbie). There is no interstate highway up there but Hwy 2 is a four lane divided highway with a speed limit of 70mph. The train had a head start and it rides FASTER than 70 mph, usually about 89 mph on that line. The possibility of catching the train under normal conditions is on paper non-existent, with rail delays present who knows. Do you want to gamble on catching the train at Stanley? If you loose your bet you are stuck in a place that does not even have air service, or you will have to spend another $160.00 on your cab to try to catch the train at Williston, again a gamble, but this time with longer odds. Williston does have an airport, but it does not have all that many flights, and they are booked about a week in advance. Your choices are: 1) wait for tomorrow's train, or 2) take a plane to Denver from Minot, which has bigger planes and more airlines than Williston, but if you are going to points west, you will still have to change planes in Denver. ROAR |
|
(1172541) | |
Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!) |
|
Posted by Broadway Lion on Wed Aug 15 10:47:18 2012, in response to Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!), posted by Nilet on Wed Aug 15 10:25:59 2012. If AMTK arranged a ride then this is a different proposition altogether. First they will put maybe six passengers in the cab (or perhaps a school bus?) and they already know what their delays will be down the line.They would have also gotten a package deal on the transportation, and the LION presumes that they may have used one of the "Crew Transports" which are already under contract to BNSF. ROAR |
|
(1172555) | |
Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!) |
|
Posted by Nilet on Wed Aug 15 11:49:27 2012, in response to Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!), posted by Broadway Lion on Wed Aug 15 10:39:49 2012. Multi-hour delays from derailment made it less of a gamble. |
|
(1172557) | |
Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!) |
|
Posted by Nilet on Wed Aug 15 11:53:44 2012, in response to Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!), posted by Broadway Lion on Wed Aug 15 10:47:18 2012. This was a special case since apparently these parents of the year left their kid on the train when they got left. It wasn't worth it to Amtrak to deal with the scandal or liability or cost of handling an unattended kid. |
|
(1172564) | |
Re: Train Wreck (some more photos!) |
|
Posted by Elkeeper on Wed Aug 15 12:04:10 2012, in response to Re: Train Wreck (some more photos!), posted by SelkirkTMO on Tue Aug 14 19:35:59 2012. Wonder what was in those containers? |
|
(1172566) | |
Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!) |
|
Posted by 3-9 on Wed Aug 15 12:09:41 2012, in response to Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!), posted by Broadway Lion on Wed Aug 15 10:39:49 2012. Taking the next train may not help much, if your luggage was on the previous train. |
|
(1172567) | |
Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!) |
|
Posted by Broadway Lion on Wed Aug 15 12:11:49 2012, in response to Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!), posted by 3-9 on Wed Aug 15 12:09:41 2012. Then neither would be an airplane.You go to the AMTK agent, and they will call the conductor and your baggage can be moved if necessary. ROAR |
|
(1172582) | |
Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!) |
|
Posted by Train Man Paul : Metro-North's Best Conductor FOR ALL 3 LINES!!! on Wed Aug 15 12:57:23 2012, in response to Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!), posted by Nilet on Tue Aug 14 18:13:52 2012. Nice!!! And the derailment shots are definitely a side of railroading I have not seen anyone posts shots of that they took themselves. Very nice!! |
|
(1172609) | |
Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!) |
|
Posted by Broadway Lion on Wed Aug 15 14:56:00 2012, in response to Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!), posted by Train Man Paul : Metro-North's Best Conductor FOR ALL 3 LINES!!! on Wed Aug 15 12:57:23 2012. Eh? What you say? |
|
(1172641) | |
Re: Train Wreck (some more photos!) |
|
Posted by SelkirkTMO on Wed Aug 15 18:01:20 2012, in response to Re: Train Wreck (some more photos!), posted by Elkeeper on Wed Aug 15 12:04:10 2012. Some of the colors of the stuff that didn't burn indicates a good amount of toys. Christmas time in retail! :) |
|
(1172691) | |
Re: Train Wreck (some more photos!) |
|
Posted by Jace on Wed Aug 15 21:01:51 2012, in response to Re: Train Wreck (some more photos!), posted by Nilet on Tue Aug 14 19:23:36 2012. Wow. Kind of surprising to see that many piled up from a grade crossing wreck. Usually the car or truck gets bashed up and you have damage to the head end but to put that much equipment on the ground?Most likely the driver's fault for causing the wreck (unless the gates weren't working or his brakes failed), but what would happen if the engineer made the wreck a whole lot worse by over or mis-reacting? Not saying that happened, but there can be plenty of gray areas in accidents. This is why the damage claims will likely end up in court. This is also why there are people who specialize in nothing but cargo law. For a ton of details, check the website of that name. Be sure to check their excellent news section, especially if you're interested in maritime disasters! |
|
(1172708) | |
Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!) |
|
Posted by 3-9 on Wed Aug 15 22:11:57 2012, in response to Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!), posted by Broadway Lion on Wed Aug 15 12:11:49 2012. With an airplane, if they beat the train to the destination, then they have a chance of getting their luggage. |
|
(1172736) | |
Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!) |
|
Posted by Nilet on Thu Aug 16 02:29:17 2012, in response to Re: Empire Builder Delays (plus some photos!), posted by 3-9 on Wed Aug 15 04:45:15 2012. It would have been nice, but we didn't exactly have the advance notice for that; at some point, the dispatcher ordered us to move on out and so we had to; they didn't provide enough advance notice for several early warnings.Apparently, the dispatcher had us move out so that we'd be positioned to pass through the wreck site first as soon as it was cleared; BNSF actually put their own trains on sidings to let us through, which was rather unusual for a freight road. They did warn that if we weren't in position to pass through the wreck site as soon as MOW gave the all clear, they would start putting their own trains through. |
|
(1172737) | |
Re: Train Wreck (some more photos!) |
|
Posted by Nilet on Thu Aug 16 02:31:14 2012, in response to Re: Train Wreck (some more photos!), posted by Jace on Wed Aug 15 21:01:51 2012. From what I heard, it was the truck driver's fault; he intentionally tried to beat the train to the crossing. From what I also heard, he didn't survive, though with that many freight cars on the ground I'd be surprised if he did. |
|
(1172762) | |
Re: Train Wreck (some more photos!) |
|
Posted by Broadway Lion on Thu Aug 16 07:59:29 2012, in response to Re: Train Wreck (some more photos!), posted by Jace on Wed Aug 15 21:01:51 2012. There were cross bucks at this crossing, but no lights or gates.ROAR |
|
(1173248) | |
Re: Train Wreck (some more photos!) |
|
Posted by 3-9 on Sat Aug 18 21:02:40 2012, in response to Re: Train Wreck (some more photos!), posted by Nilet on Thu Aug 16 02:31:14 2012. Looking at the photos of the cars, that must have been one heavy truck to derail so much. |
|
[1 2] |
||
Page 2 of 2 |