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Even though the car tried to drive around the crossing gates, this story will be misinterpreted by someone to be AMTRAK's fault -- "why can't their trains watch where they're going?" or "I'll never ride AMTRAK again -- they are SO UNSAFE!!!!!!!" or something.
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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Lest we forget, there was another Amtrak grade xing incident near Lakeland during June.
Posts: 9982 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Maybe not teens, proloz, but young people. Just a tragedy. Is there still a program called "Operation Lifesaver" out there? I think it used to be backed by the Association of American Railroads, and went into schools and such to teach about the dangers at grade crossings and along rights-of-way. Seems like my state needs it now more than ever, especially in urban areas and especially regarding Amtrak trains.
Too many people are too familiar with relatively slow-moving CSX freights over the same lines; they don't realize how quickly a 79-mph train can just "appear" out of nowhere.
-------------------- Ocala Mike Posts: 1530 | From: Ocala, FL | Registered: Dec 2006
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Before Passenger Train Journal magazine's hiatus in the mid-1990's, Amtrak engineer Doug Riddell had a pretty moving article about how difficult it is for the engineers to cope with grade crossing accidents which they have been involved in.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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Yes, I feel sorry for the T&E and OBS crew on that train. They should be counselled for post-traumatic stress before resuming their jobs. One never reads or hears about the effects of these incidents on the railroad personnel.
-------------------- Ocala Mike Posts: 1530 | From: Ocala, FL | Registered: Dec 2006
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Everything happens in three's.... Another incident: the NB Silver Star (17) struck a cement truck near Plant City Fl. and derailed a few hours ago! Train is standing upright, not sure about injuries.
Posts: 332 | From: Long Island, NY USA | Registered: Jan 2004
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