Someone made a HUGE mistake..

[user 1215]

But Welcome to AU!

 

[Ryan]

Stating that you are glad Ryan does not work for Amtrak is a personal attack, regardless of trying to justify it as fact. When you say you are glad someone does not work for Amtrak, it is obvious you feel they are lacking somehow; otherwise, you wouldn't say such a thing.

If you knew Ryan personally, you would actually be quite sad that he does not work for Amtrak. Amtrak could use more people who are patient, understanding, intelligent, and resourceful, not to mention good under pressure.

Well Said and True!

Agreed.

Thanks, guys! :hi: It'd be pretty stellar to work at Amtrak, I'd like to think that I'd be somewhat good at it.

 

[oldtimer]

Ryan, as a 40 year employee (both management and agreement) I am sure that you would be a tremendous asset to Amtrak. We already have more then one member that are an unbelievable assets. I just hope they don't let the ba*t*rds get to them!

 

[Acela150]

Sort of fresh off the Harrisburg Line today.. No wrong railing to report of! To note there is a signal just before crossing the main bridge at 52nd street. I know some had wondered if there were signals on the line.

 

[41bridge]

So there was not enough time for the SEPTA dispatcher to confer with Amtrak dispatcher to find out what this "unidentified train" that came off Amtrak territory was?

Like in the movie 'Cool Hand Luke'........"What we have heeya, is a failya to communicate"

FWIW, I dispatch for a Class 1. All that would have been seen is a track circuit lit up. This happens hundreds of time a year in any dispatching office.. We normally call the signal maintainer out to see what's wrong. Could be bad insulated joint, broken rail, kids shorting out the rails, etc. Not a big deal-no cause for panic.

 

[AlanB]

So there was not enough time for the SEPTA dispatcher to confer with Amtrak dispatcher to find out what this "unidentified train" that came off Amtrak territory was?

Like in the movie 'Cool Hand Luke'........"What we have heeya, is a failya to communicate"

FWIW, I dispatch for a Class 1. All that would have been seen is a track circuit lit up. This happens hundreds of time a year in any dispatching office.. We normally call the signal maintainer out to see what's wrong. Could be bad insulated joint, broken rail, kids shorting out the rails, etc. Not a big deal-no cause for panic.

Track circuits don't tend to move down the line like a train would.

Now in this case, with only one signal on the entire branch, yes it could have looked like a track circuit initially, at least until they passed the next and last signal.

 

[jis]

Actually I tend to agree that the SEPTA dispatcher did not really have enough time to come to any solid conclusion. A track circuit glitch could not be ruled out for the major section between Valley and Bala. Only after it exited that block into the station block at Bala Cynwyd would it become obvious that there was a real train involved. But by that time, the train is coming to a stop anyway, and there is not much for the SEPTA guy to do other than try to figure out where the train came from.

They probably first asked the SEPTA Cynwyd train whether it was a Bala Cynwyd already. upon hearing not so, then they got really puzzled and asked Amtrak. Just a speculation.

 

[CaptainScarlet]

In a nutshell here is what went down..Train came from Harrisburg with a problem that prevented the AEM-7 from being used by the engineer...The New York based crew, which consisted of Engineer, Conductor and Assistant Conductor was told of the plan to reverse back to Styles Interlocking then proceed to New York via the NY-PGH Subway track...The engineer who is pretty new said he was unsure because he has not been out that way since he qualified on territory and supervision offered to get him a pilot for the move...the conductor who has over 20 yrs experience, including a stint with SEPTA talked the engineer into making the move, without the pilot..When they got down there and was lined up for the Valley Track, the conductor, who was riding in the AEM-7 and calling out signals got confused and continued calling signals, which SEPTA had put up since they didnt know how long the train would be and the engineer whos confidence was already bad enough about the move didnt stop when he got behind the Pot Signal and just kept on shoving the train into no mans land, over a bridge that was not supposed to handle a train of that size. The crew obviously wasn't listening to the radio because Zoo Tower had put up the signal for the move towards the Subway and i'm sure they was trying to figure out why the train hadn't 'knocked down' the signal yet...Also CETC-6 would have gotten in on the action as well since they put up the signals as you exit the Subway and they were just as baffled that the train was delayed and they might have called to them as well... This would have been averted if the engineer had stuck to his guns and took the offer of a pilot for the move...Both are very lucky people and will have to deal with ridicule for the rest of their careers!!!!

 

[Ryan]

Better that than something more serious!

Speaking of "serious", I guess Mokita isn't going to come back and tell me why he thinks I ought not work for Amtrak.