My prayers go out to all involved.
This is a bad wreck. Several deaths.
Ralph
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=9712611&ch=4226713&src=news
Bad news! My prayers go out as well…
The death toll is up to 17, and expected to rise.
“This is the worst accident I’ve ever seen,” Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said. “Clearly the injuries are going to mount and so are the fatalities.”
They are still going through the wreckage.
Ralph
Now almost 8pm here in yUK, and the last news someten minutes ago is 18 confirmed dead with many more visible in the wreckage, also dead, according to the fire chief at the scene. Eighty-one taken to hospital, and many critcally injured.
Thoughts and prayers, folks, is all that we can do.
Do it.
tac
My wife received notice yesterday that one of the teachers she taught with about 13 years ago, was one of those killed. Also a counselor at our local high school was injured, but released later in the day. This hits close to home. 25 killed, 135 injured, 81 are critical. Last report is that the engineer on the Metrolink train ran a red signal and the switch at that location looked like it was forced open by the Metro locomotive.
I was shocked to learn that none of the Metrolink lines had cab signals. I communted on NJ Transit’s Morris and Essex line and the Northeast corridor into Penn Station. All of NJ Transit’s lines and the Northeast corridor are equipt with cab signals. I is unthinkable to run high speed trains without them. On the Northeast Corridor the Accella trains going 150 mph share the ride of way with heavy freight traffic. this would never be possible with out automatic train controls.
Dear All,
My prayers go out to all involved.
For an interesting look at the terrain in the area,
go to: Google Earth
search: Chatsworth, CA
The Stoney Point Park tunnel is a few blocks south of Hwy 118 on Hwy 27.
My son’s relatively new gaming computer (Vista, quad core, hyped-up video card) shows incredible 3D (= moving 2D) views of the area. I can count railroad ties.
Double track (main + siding) on the east side of the park moves north, narrowing to a single track, then turns west, through the 500 ft. tunnel under Stoney Pt. rock climbing park, then turns south through a narrow rock canyon.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Joe Satnik
On another site, there is a discussion of whether these trains should be equipped with automatic devices to slow the train at caution signals and stop them at red signals. Just the type of automation that is in successful operation over much of the world, and could possibly have proven useful in this case.
One of the replies cites various inconveniences to train operators and motorists who might be delayed by false trips, etc. Personally, If I was either on that train, or was a motorist being held up by some automatic anti-collision device, a little inconvenience would be much preferable to what occurred. I guess some folks in our ‘modern society’ value their personal inconvenience over human life and suffering.
I sincerely hope for peace for the bereaved families and friends of the deceased, and for speedy recoveries of all the injured.
Happier RRing,
Jerry
Or maybe a device that shouts, “Hey knucklehead! You just blew a red signal!”