Amtrak may hit by object?

Even if a rock or something had hit the windshield, I don't understand how that would have made the train accelerate its speed like it did. Accelerating the train's speed requires changing the throttle position, a very deliberate action, and the acceleration lasted several minutes. Also, from the pictures I've seen, the projectile didn't even go thru the glass, so it didn't hit the engineer or any instruments. It crackled the glass at the impact point but didn't penetrate it.

Also, authorities said that they didn't see anything hitting the windshield on video that they checked.

Strange. :hmm:
 
Reba said:
Even if a rock or something had hit the windshield, I don't understand how that would have made the train accelerate its speed like it did. Accelerating the train's speed requires changing the throttle position, a very deliberate action, and the acceleration lasted several minutes. Also, from the pictures I've seen, the projectile didn't even go thru the glass, so it didn't hit the engineer or any instruments. It crackled the glass at the impact point but didn't penetrate it.

Also, authorities said that they didn't see anything hitting the windshield on video that they checked.

Strange. :hmm:
Click to expand...

Could the train engineer had some kind of seizure and moved the throttle position by mistake ? He is having trouble remembering what happen , I know he was hit on his head and that can cause you have trouble recalling what happen . I heard on a the news there could be a criminal investigation b/c there been a few trains that been reported getting hit
by an object.
 
Last edited:
Speculation is that he either ducked or tried to get the train out of harms way. That area is known for "attacks" on the trains.
I'm sure the NTSB & FBI will figure things out and let us know on due time.
 
In my opinion: Amtrak bribed $$$$ to lawyers to stir up the media and politicians so people will not afraid to ride train again and to avoid the lawsuit. 106mph in 55mph zone is extremely unacceptable.
 
authentic said:
In my opinion: Amtrak bribed $$$$ to lawyers to stir up the media and politicians so people will not afraid to ride train again and to avoid the lawsuit. 106mph in 55mph zone is extremely unacceptable.
Click to expand...

An Amtrak employee has already filed a lawsuit , I bet there will more to follow.
 
authentic said:
In my opinion: Amtrak bribed $$$$ to lawyers to stir up the media and politicians so people will not afraid to ride train again and to avoid the lawsuit. 106mph in 55mph zone is extremely unacceptable.
Click to expand...


Say what? Amtrak didn't have $$$$ to pay a bribe. They don't have $$$$ to do the things they need to do to improve the infrastructure. Blame Congress for that.

The NTSB does a thorough job and will not say anything until they have the facts. Obviously they have not come to a conclusion as to what happened in the cab.

Amtrak is waiting for their findings, unlike the general public & politicians & media.
 
Safety investigators don't know why the train was speeding, but the circumstances suggest precisely the sort of event the automatic system — known as "positive train control" (PTL) Digital communications combined with GPS can monitor train locations and speeds, talk to trains and automatically take charge when a train needs to be slowed.

In December 2013, a Metro-North commuter train derailed on a section of track in the Bronx, killing four, after the engineer headed into a 30-mph curve at 82 miles per hour. That track also lacked the automatic control system.

Congress mandated that all railroads install an automated braking system that could have prevented the crash. The deadline is 2015, but many railroads — wary of the cost — have failed to comply and are pushing for delay.
 
I've heard that they installed the equipment at the curve, but are having trouble getting the needed radio frequency. They are supposedly in negotiations with whomever has that radio frequency.
Plus Congress won't give them the $$ they need to make the rails safer.
 
ahahahah Amtrak bribing people with $$$? Money they don't have because Congress keeps slashing their budget(s)? They have been losing money since at least the 1980s. All their money also goes into a very bloated middle management system- there's too many of them.

Amtrak has been haggling with Congress for years to get the appropriate funding but in the meantime 30 year old trains are still in service, many stations were shut down (mostly smaller towns/cities), train routes/schedules cut back.... and the list goes on.
 
authentic said:
No evidence about gunshot, so what's AMTRAK next excuse will look like? :roll:



http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/18/us/philadelphia-amtrak-train-derailment/index.html
Click to expand...


I don't believe Amtrak or the NTSB said it was investigating a gunshot. They are investigating whether a projectile hit the windshield before the accident since 2 other trains had been hit by projectiles in that same area around the same time.
That area is known for having stones, bricks, etc thrown at the trains.
They have determined that, if a projectile was thrown/shot at the train, it was not a bullet.
 
LoveBlue said:
I've heard that they installed the equipment at the curve, but are having trouble getting the needed radio frequency. They are supposedly in negotiations with whomever has that radio frequency.
Plus Congress won't give them the $$ they need to make the rails safer.
Click to expand...

radio frequency? that would be FTC matter.
 
whatdidyousay! said:
Could the train engineer had some kind of seizure and moved the throttle position by mistake ? He is having trouble remembering what happen , I know he was hit on his head and that can cause you have trouble recalling what happen . I heard on a the news there could be a criminal investigation b/c there been a few trains that been reported getting hit
by an object.
Click to expand...

that's not likely to happen. there are safety protocols such as dead man's switch.
 
Jiro said:
oh NOW they install it even though they were complaining about budget cuts and stuff? :roll:
Click to expand...


I know about Congress budget cuts. Amtrak needs fund for new PTC system in all of this trains but PTC is too expensive. Congress must think about PTC system.


Sent from my iPhone using AllDeaf
 
Chevy57 said:
I know about Congress budget cuts. Amtrak needs fund for new PTC system in all of this trains but PTC is too expensive. Congress must think about PTC system.


Sent from my iPhone using AllDeaf
Click to expand...

the budget cut does not affect the fund for rail safety and operations.
 
Back
Top