Sept16 2008 Speed Swing Accident--Wide.avi

This is a frightening video of a passenger train striking a piece of Maintenance of Way or M/W equipment, specifically a speed-swing, after the train crew had been advised by the foreman in charge that "all men and equipment are in the clear". As professional railroaders, we deal with maintenance of way people everyday. This is one of those things that we hope never happens, and it should not have happened. The old saying, especially among railroad men, is that, if it can happen, it will. As a locomotive engineer, this clip from the locomotive on-board video camera scares me to death! Even when protocol is followed by the train crew, if it isn't followed by the foreman in charge of his workmen, disaster is the only inevitable result. This is a very sobering video. Note that once the train is dynamited (emergency brake application--the loud "whoosh" that you hear in the video, followed by a succession of "beeps" from the EOT receiver) it takes approximately a half mile to get the train stopped. I wasn't there, but I know that engineer was shaking uncontrollably from this experience--trust me.-------------


This video is from the in cab camera on the lead locomotive of the West Coast Express, a commuter train that runs from Mission to Vancouver every morning. This incident happened in the Maple Ridge area where construction workers are building a new bridge which crosses over the tracks.
In the video shortly after it begins you will see a rectangular red sign on the right side of the track. This is the beginning of a maintenance gang's limits that are protected by what we call a form "B". To proceed past the "Red Board" the train crew must call the Foreman in charge of the gang to clear the train through the limits of the gang's "form B" via radio.
The train crew knows in advance when they go on duty at their initial terminal the location, duration, and Foreman of all "form Bs" on the territory they will be moving their train over on that day. The Foreman of this gang has already cleared the train to proceed through his limits. He was supposed to contact all members of his gang and ensure that they are clear of the tracks prior to clearing the train to proceed.
That did not happen in this case.
Reason unknown. The engineer of the train is sounding his horn as he proceeds through the gang's limits, a normal procedure to warn workers that we are coming through.
As the train approaches the road crossing that is still fouled by the front end loader you will hear a loud blast of air on the video. This is the engineer "plugging" the train or applying the emergency brakes when he sees the loader on the track ahead. The train is traveling at about 60 mph. The loader operator is trying to get clear of the track, he does not have enough time.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Train Collision
• Railroad Accident
• Train strikes equipment

[nickjjww]

it must b traumatic for the conductor to go back and view a suicide victim.

have you had many nasty experiences such as these. if so why do you continue as a train driver.

i only ask this because i live in australia and am quite keen to become a train driver and am just very inquisitive.

[kcbigbandjazz]

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I have had some close calls, but nothing like this. A lot of my co-workers have. You can't let it get to you. It's part of the job. I do what I do because I enjoy it. It's not for everyone, and it's a dangerous sometimes tiring and stressful job, but it is fulfilling and it pays very well. Engineer's on our division make $33.80 per hour.

[boo2277]

which railroad do you work for? how much do you remember how much you made when you first started?

[kcbigbandjazz]

I'm sorry for getting back to you so late. Things have been busy lately. When I first started with Wisconsin Central, we made 2700.00 per month. With the Canadian National as our new owner, engineers on our division currently earn 33.38 per hour, or 333.80 per day. It's a rewarding job, but you earn every penny of it.

[nickjjww]

what is your procdure if you hit a car or person are you ment to stop and asses the situation or just aleart someone and continue on?

[kcbigbandjazz]

Anytime we strike a car, person, construction equipment, etc., we have to stop, assess any injuries first of all among the crew, then the conductor will go back to see if any one is dead or injured. While he is doing that, I am making an emergency call to the dispatcher and as the conductor relays info to me, I inform the dispatcher what we need in the way of rescue equipment, fire, police, etc.

[msk7046]

I watched this four times. Did someone die here?  I see the worker AWAY from the tracks, but did the impact force the equipment into the worker?

[sookster54]

going 0 mph and still getting from point A to point B!

[OfficerNelson]

@soshmed1 Probably because the recording software had the ability to record speed but the train wasn't hooked up for it.

[RealCadde]

And that ladies and gentlemen is a prime example why you always exercise extra caution around rails. The train, even when slamming on the brakes, simply cannot stop in time to save your sorry ass. Imagine what would happen with a fully loaded freight train!

Those can go 3 to 6 times the distance before they come to a stop.

That is part why railway engineers have a "stressful job", they know very well that even the smallest mistake means the difference between life and death any time of the day.

[soshmed1]

Why does the HUD display read "0mph" ???

[VK4LA]

being a train driver must be a great job ,but also very stressfull to ....i take me hat off to you guys ,ill stick with the sitting in the back carriages as the customer.

[BRAVOADD]

Ever have one of those "Oh fuck" moments? Someone did here.

[pdlip1]

Yep, and I am a former engineer.

[jimmyp42002]

even the bullet trains in france and the UK arn't on autopilot. engineers jobs are always considered "easy" but in fact there not all that easy. it requires work

[pdlip1]

BS, you haven't a clue and there is no autopilot here in the US.