RAILforum: Silver Star collides with car, kills 4

This is topic Silver Star collides with car, kills 4 in forum Amtrak at RAILforum.

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Posted by CHATTER (Member # 1185) on :

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/16/train.collision.ap/index.html

Posted by proloz (Member # 5427) on :

Oh man, that's so sad. [Frown]

I wonder if it was teens trying to beat the train? Just terrible.

Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :

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.

Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :

Lest we forget, there was another Amtrak grade xing incident near Lakeland during June.

Posted by Ocala Mike (Member # 4657) on :

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.

Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :

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.

Posted by Ocala Mike (Member # 4657) on :

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.

Posted by MDRR (Member # 2992) on :

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.

Posted by Ocala Mike (Member # 4657) on :

Anecdotal evidence for my posting of earlier today regarding Florida drivers vs. trains, especially those of the Amtrak persuasion.

When will they learn?