Passenger Trains > White Pass & Yukon: Defective Switch Caused Wreck

Railroad says switch failure caused derailment in Southeast Alaska
Alaska Dispatch News
by Megan Edge
July 30, 2014

Excerpt:

> On Wednesday, White Pass & Yukon Route President John Finlayson said
> it was a "single component failure in the switch" that caused the
> train to derail. He added that although he heard a "couple of people"
> went into the water, he "could never confirm it" and didn't know the
> details as to how it happened.

The complete article says that two were ejected from the train, including
a rail fan who was on an open platform videotaping when the derailment
occurred, and who "expressed frustration with the rail company's attitude
toward the derailment." Nevertheless, he says he'll ride again, though he
is not sure he could convince the rest of his family.

Full story:

Railroad says switch failure caused derailment



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/31/14 11:08 by GenePoon.

Reading the full story, the rail enthusiast who went into the water, a Mr. Kratz, sounds very reasonable about the whole thing. Wonder if he will follow up with a lawsuit? Also wonder if the railroad will close the open platform in the future.

masterphots Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Reading the full story, the rail enthusiast who
> went into the water, a Mr. Kratz, sounds very
> reasonable about the whole thing. Wonder if he
> will follow up with a lawsuit? Also wonder if the
> railroad will close the open platform in the
> future.

I'm trying to remember when I rode the WPYR a couple of weeks ago...I recall signs posted warning of some hazards (derailment wasn't one of them). Basically, on the platform at your own risk. I know that's not bullet proof in this day and age so no need to go off on that tangent. I was on the open platform the whole five hours Skagway to Carcross.

masterphots Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Reading the full story, the rail enthusiast who
> went into the water, a Mr. Kratz, sounds very
> reasonable about the whole thing. Wonder if he
> will follow up with a lawsuit?

=======================================================

He's from the state in which Philadelphia Lawyers rise from the muck...

He is entitled to his expenses, for sure; and what he lost from having to
cancel the rest of his vacation. I'm assuming that while he was being
treated, the cruise ship sailed away...

If the excursion was booked by the cruise line, as most are, they will
probably make good on refunding his entire fare for both the cruise and any
shore excursions, his roundtrip airfare AND offer him a free or
heftily-discounted cruise in the future.

I have no qualms about his doing whatever it takes to make him whole again,
with compensation for his trouble. Thousands upon thousands in judgments,
however, are mostly for the lawyer.

To the professional railroaders here:
Do you think it is time for the WP&Y to replace
all their spring switches on that line with hand-
thrown switches?

As a tour booked through the cruise ship, they would have waited a "reasonable" amount of time for all participants to return. If his injuries were such that he was treated and released, he could have continued with the rest of the cruise.

I was on that same ship the week before and the next day, after Skagway, is Glacier Bay...not a great distance that delaying departure a few hours would have had an impact of the rest of the cruise.

FrensicPic Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> As a tour booked through the cruise ship, they
> would have waited a "reasonable" amount of time
> for all participants to return. If his injuries
> were such that he was treated and released, he
> could have continued with the rest of the cruise.

=====================================================

True...though as one of two who were thrown into the water...the other
also being part of his same traveling party...and with his wife suffering
from major bruising as she was tossed about while hanging on for dear
life, I'd suspect they wouldn't have been back to the ship with the
remaining passengers!

Cruise lines most often make good to their passengers, frequently over
and above what is considered the "norm" in travel, when this sort of thing
happens; and generally without being asked. I know of several cases where
what was asked by the cruise line of the passenger was, "how much?" There
is no need to send a letter to Customer Service.