10/30/21 Auto Train #53 fatal collision in North Charleston

[BCL]

Got a little confusing because of reports of a different collision on the Silver Star this morning.

https://www.postandcourier.com/news...cle_359330d0-3978-11ec-b8f3-b7f228972fd0.html

 

[NSC1109]

good lord just not a great time for Amtrak..

 

[JoshP]

Now, this 97, 53, 91 98 is stalling, again. Other accident by truck caused by 91

 

[Qapla]

Actually, it sounded more like the accident was "caused" by the truck ... not by 91

 

[JoshP]

Actually, it sounded more like the accident was "caused" by the truck ... not by 91

not what i see, amtrak says 91 is.

 

[Qapla]

not what i see, amtrak says 91 is.

????

Where does Amtrak say that 91 was the "cause" of the accident. From another post it indicated that the truck tried to beat the train ... if so, the truck "caused" the accident ... yes, 91 may have been the train that hit the truck - but 91 did not "cause" the accident.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

not what i see, amtrak says 91 is.

He’s saying the TRUCK, not the TRAIN, caused the accident

 

[PVD]

The best news article I saw so far used a stock photo of an ACS-64 and an Amfleet. Must have been going pretty fast to get that far South without power.

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

At least from what I've heard no passengers were injured, at least not seriously but this will play heck with the AT schedule for a couple days. And hopefully the lead unit can be repaired.

 

[BCL]

At least from what I've heard no passengers were injured, at least not seriously but this will play heck with the AT schedule for a couple days. And hopefully the lead unit can be repaired.

Any idea what it was? Are they running Chargers yet?

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Any idea what it was? Are they running Chargers yet?

Only 2 have been delivered. They recently went to Michigan for testing

 

[JoshP]

Only 2 have been delivered. They recently went to Michigan for testing

2 out of 75. Amtrak has long way to go, I heard the final delivery, I believe 2023/2024?

 

[BCL]

Sorry. Just a bit confused because I've seen a few of the Chargers running in California, but they've got Caltrans markings I think.

 

[Cal]

Sorry. Just a bit confused because I've seen a few of the Chargers running in California, but they've got Caltrans markings I think.

Chargers have been running in the Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and California for a few years. But LD chargers have not been put into service, first delivery was only a few months ago.

 

[user 1215]

Here's a non paywall article:
Three people are dead after SUV collides with Amtrak train

 

[Qapla]

It may not have a paywall - but it doesn't allow ad-blockers

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Here's a non paywall article:
Three people are dead after SUV collides with Amtrak train

Yeah, well, why bring up the Montana crash. The SC crash was at a grade crossing - most likely caused by the SUV being on the tracks when it should not have been. The Montana crash was out in the open country - no grade crossing involved.

 

[dlagrua]

As long as we have grade crossings there will be accidents. Unfortunately some people crossing railroad tracks do not hold to the old advice of Stop, Look and Listen and pay the consequences. I always remembered the sign that was once below the crossbucks when I was a youngster and still adhere to that advice today.

 

[basketmaker]

Some folks will never learn.

 

[BCL]

As long as we have grade crossings there will be accidents. Unfortunately some people crossing railroad tracks do not hold to the old advice of Stop, Look and Listen and pay the consequences. I always remembered the sign that was once below the crossbucks when I was a youngster and still adhere to that advice today.View attachment 25245

In California, all school buses are required to perform a full stop at railroad crossings before proceeding.

I don't worry too much about it with proper crossing though in my car.

There was some TV ad showing someone stalling on railroad tracks when he stops for a dog running in front of him, but then he tries starting the car when the train is approaching. However, the disclaimer in the commercial says that one should abandon the car in such a situation.

 

[daybeers]

As long as we have grade crossings there will be accidents. Unfortunately some people crossing railroad tracks do not hold to the old advice of Stop, Look and Listen and pay the consequences. I always remembered the sign that was once below the crossbucks when I was a youngster and still adhere to that advice today.View attachment 25245

That's a great way to get rear-ended these days, there's not much of a reason to stop before a crossing equipped with gates and/or lights, that's part of the reason the new slogan is "Look, Listen, Live". You don't want to increase the chance of something or someone getting stuck on the tracks due to a crash.

 

[BCL]

That's a great way to get rear-ended these days, there's not much of a reason to stop before a crossing equipped with gates and/or lights, that's part of the reason the new slogan is "Look, Listen, Live". You don't want to increase the chance of something or someone getting stuck on the tracks due to a crash.

So what do you do with school buses and commercial vehicles that are required to stop?

 

[Qapla]

I think school busses are supposed to stop at RR crossings in all the states

 

[AmtrakBlue]

So what do you do with school buses and commercial vehicles that are required to stop?

Most of us can read and can be prepared to follow at enough of a distance to allow stopping when the bus stops. We can't anticipate when a car/truck/suv/etc might stop, though we should all follow the 3 (or is it 2) second rule when following vehicles.

 

[MARC Rider]

That's a great way to get rear-ended these days, there's not much of a reason to stop before a crossing equipped with gates and/or lights, that's part of the reason the new slogan is "Look, Listen, Live". You don't want to increase the chance of something or someone getting stuck on the tracks due to a crash.

Maybe one doesn't need to stop, but slowing down is always a good idea. Unfortunately, a significant fraction of the American driving public seem to be impatient, aggressive, or both. Certainly, everybody drives too fast and thinks they're a stunt driver in a James Bond movie, including some people driving 18-wheeler tractor-trailers. The fact that most cars on the road are overpowered for the job they do just makes this worse. I've been noticing more boneheaded things on the road since the pandemic, but I'm not sure if that's real or even related, but drivers make a lot of stupid maneuvers out there. Putting a stop sign right before every grade crossing might not be a bad idea.