Large Scale Central

Amtrak crash in Philly

General Discussion
#61

David Maynard said:

Devon, the throttle is a lever on the desk/panel. If the engineer were struck, and if he had his hand on the lever, who is to say he didn’t “command” the acceleration when he was stuck. I am not saying it was intentional, I am saying he jerked his hand that way when he was struck. Of course, before anyone gets their panties in a bunch, this is all speculation at this point.

Another thing to think about is the throttle is NOT like a gas pedal. Once you put the throttle in a specific setting it stays that way until you move it again. You don’t have to have your hand on the throttle to keep it ‘going’.

#62

Craig Townsend said:

David Maynard said:

Devon, the throttle is a lever on the desk/panel. If the engineer were struck, and if he had his hand on the lever, who is to say he didn’t “command” the acceleration when he was stuck. I am not saying it was intentional, I am saying he jerked his hand that way when he was struck. Of course, before anyone gets their panties in a bunch, this is all speculation at this point.

Another thing to think about is the throttle is NOT like a gas pedal. Once you put the throttle in a specific setting it stays that way until you move it again. You don’t have to have your hand on the throttle to keep it ‘going’.

Thanks Craig that was educational and makes me realize why there are so many different scenarios

#63

More food for thought.

One of my friends that is a rail (and huge Rhb fan, garden railroader) posted a link to a Youtube video of a similar electric locomotive throttling up. Kind of supports my theory… Watch how fast it accelerates, and then decelerates. 8600 Horsepower, train was likely 200-400 tons? That’s a dang good Horsepower per ton ratio!

I’ll just say that running at that fast, and changing speeds that quickly you really need to understand and know your territory by heart.

To add even more food for the thought. I’m taking a class right now on brain science and education, and the authors of the textbooks point out that long term memory (automatic responses) is what our brain is doing when we walk, eat, etc. So when the engineer was interviewed, the papers/NTSB reported that he could recall exact details about his trip south, and specific locations for curves, speed, etc but could not remember the accident. With my limited knowledge of the brain, this explanation seems entirely possible. The long term memory of operating the train and those details could be recalled with ease, but the short term memory of the incident was ‘wiped clean’. Any brain scientists/doctors out here?

#64

I keep thinking too much about this, but this quote from an article strikes me as a bit odd…

“The NTSB said the regional train engineer recalled no such conversation, and investigators listened to the dispatch tape and heard no communications from the Amtrak engineer to the railroad’s dispatch center to say that something had struck the train” (Bold added for emphasis).

Why would the NTSB say that no communications between the Amtrak train and the dispatcher happened, when the rest of the information seems to indicate that it was two trains talking to one another. Maybe a news reporter not understanding the difference?

To me if there was no radio communication at all it would say

"“The NTSB said the regional train engineer recalled no such conversation, and investigators listened to the dispatch tape and heard no communications from the Amtrak engineer to the railroad’s dispatch center or between the Amtrak engineer and the regional engineer to say that something had struck the train” (Bold & italics added). I understand that this is a lot wordier, and not as smooth, but is the NTSB forgetting to include information?

http://www.komonews.com/news/national/Investigators-unsure-anything-struck-Amtrak-train-before-derailment-304172141.html

#65

There is a hearing today in Congress about this, and other crashes. It will be fun watching the suits Tapdance.

#66

Steve Featherkile said:

There is a hearing today in Congress about this, and other crashes. It will be fun watching the suits Tapdance.

I’ve never understood why Congress needs to have a hearing about this when the NTSB is still in the process of an investigation. Wouldn’t it make more sense to have the hearing after the NTSB releases it’s final report? Never mind, it’s political theater…

#67

because they need to look like they care and are doing something about it. Makes them look good.

#68

Concerning the track where the train derailed,–Does anyone know the superelevation, degree of curve and length of easement?

#69

I see that the media has posted reports of the engineer on the cell phone. this is still conjecture as the cell phone records must be varified.

#70

NTSB is one to never give you all the info as to the on going investigation. You will be lucky to hear what the final cause is within a year. They give you just enough info for guys like you to make all kinds of conclusions. I spent 31 years dealing with those folks. We did all the leg work for them and they take all the credit. BTW it’s interesting that congress rakes Amtrak over the coals then cuts there budget. How are the ever going tfo get the safety systems in place without money. Later RJD