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I didn't witness the event, but here is the question asked of me. Sunset east bound train stopped before getting to the Beaumont platform. Two people got off the train with luggage and boarded a purple van with Indiana license plates. If you google map Beaumont, this stop happened on the old Mo-pac line at Major dr. My understanding is it held up traffic for a long time. Anyone know what was going on?
notelvis Member # 3071
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Maybe the train was very late, the engine crew exceeded their hours of service, and had to get off prior to making the station stop.
Just a guess from the realm of 'logical' explanations.
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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Sounds like something out of X-Files. Sure it wasn't Mulder and Scully meeting a spaceship? Don't let those Indiana plates fool you either; lots of Texans trying to pass as Hoosiers these days.
PaulB Member # 4258
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Could be a deadheading UP crew. They usually step off the train from the transition dorm or the lounge car. Which car did they exit from?
gp35 Member # 3971
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I don't know. This was from a person who would not know what a transition dorm is. It was in the morning so I doubt the crew was dead yet. Maybe Amtrak is using a non-station to do change of crew for security purpose.
train lady Member # 3920
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but if it were a crew change wouldn't a new crew be getting on?
George Harris Member # 2077
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Could be they got on earlier elsewhere, or the preson simply did not see it. Morning has nothing do to with whether the crew was dead or not because the start time could have been anythime. If it was start time plus anything over 12 hours, they would be dead. Generally when a crew goes dead it does not always mean they get off at that point. They may ride with the relief crew to where ever it is convenient to get off for them.
Ira Slotkin Member # 81
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Rentzenberger (sp?) uses vans like that. They do a lot of crew transporting especially out west. Specialize in it I believe. When I drove a cab in Grand Junction CO we were back up for transportiongh crews when they weren't available. Genrally did drop off one and pick up another. Good fares. Round trip and usually a long way. Ususally nbice people but sleepy after their shift. Sometimes out into the desert to some lonely spot. Ira
train lady Member # 3920
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or maybe there were two people who were going to visit or return home in Indiana from a visit or conference or what ever in the west and this is the closest way back. The purple van was simply family or friends picking them up for the drive back.
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