Western Railroad Discussion > Not good for the A&M...two trains collide

http://www.nwahomepage.com/fulltext-news/d/story/new-info-freight-train-collides-with-passenger-tra/40804/AwdwSSJx7E-fjiB-Y_oV2w

The Iron Horse

Ouch! As one who ran many a fall excursion, this is the one thing that is dreaded the most.

From the article, "According to those officials
on the scene, a total of 44 people were on both
trains. Several were injured, but they say five of
those people are in critical condition."

That is just awful. My heart goes out to all those
injured and to their families and friends.

EDIT:
This is a completely different accident than the one
that was reported here previously, in which a freight
train pulling 98 cars derailed when it ran over a
wash-out:

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,3549624

According to the TV news coverage, the engineer and
fireman suffered only bumps and bruises:

http://5newsonline.com/2014/10/10/conductor-engineer-hospitalized-after-train-derails-in-chester/

What an awful week for everyone on the A&M, and their passengers.

Interested to see how exactly this was able to happen.

I wonder if this marks the end for A&M?

Posted from Android

Typical sloppy news media coverage as usual. When did this occur? Today (Thurs.)? Yesterday?

Just a few hours ago.

Watch what happens to excursion liability insurance costs.

mopac1978 Wrote:
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> Typical sloppy news media coverage as usual. When
> did this occur? Today (Thurs.)? Yesterday?


The original post time / date is right at the top.

trkspd Wrote:
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> Interested to see how exactly this was able to
> happen.
>
> I wonder if this marks the end for A&M?
>
> Posted from Android


As would I. Do they not use radios? Fusees? Torpedoes? A Flagman?

Rathole Wrote:
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> Just a few hours ago.

That is odd. I did not think most RRs ran passenger
excursions on weekdays after school started.

Does anyone have any more details? What a terrible
accident! I am very worried about the fate of the injured
people.

What a terrible week for the A&M. I, too, do not see how
they can survive.

I, too, am worried about what insurance companies will do t
o liability premium rates for all other excursion operators.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/16/14 12:46 by Margaret_SP_fan.

CPCoyote Wrote:
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> As would I. Do they not use radios? Fusees?
> Torpedoes? A Flagman?

You're joking, right?

trainjunkie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> CPCoyote Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > As would I. Do they not use radios? Fusees?
> > Torpedoes? A Flagman?
>
> You're joking, right?


Hope they have a flagging kit on those SD70ACes. Oh wait, those probably dumped out in the river.

Pump

It won't be the end of the A&M, but who knows about the future of the excursions. For now though, let's keep our thoughts and prayers with the injured.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/16/14 13:56 by Rathole.

More info --
From THV11's website:
http://www.thv11.com/story/news/local/2014/10/16/passenger-train-freight-train-collide-in-northwest-arkansas/17358277/
Krista Guthrie with ADEM [Arkansas Department of
Emergency Management] told THV11 that 44 people
are injured, six of whom are crew members. She said
five individuals are critically injured.......that left two
engines and four train cars damaged in the accident."

Yet more info -
From NWAonline:
http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2014/oct/16/authorities-respond-reported-train-wreck-washingto/
"They said two trains collided. The first train was stopped
on the tracks, and a relief train sent to help hit it from the
south at about 10:40 a.m. [local time: Central Time].....
There were 44 people, including passengers and crew, on
both trains, Luther said. [John Luther, director of the Washington
County Department of Emergency Management and
Washington County] Five people suffered moderate or
severe injuries, Luther said, and some others suffered minor
injuries."



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/16/14 14:07 by Margaret_SP_fan.

Fresh news photos just posted that show the equipment involved.

Hard to tell if the A&M 68 was leading the passenger train long hood forward, or it was the lead engine on the helper train and slammed into the coaches. From the looks of the coach truck springs on the ground, it looks like the impact moved the coaches over 2 car lengths... that's a pretty good thud!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/16/14 13:50 by sp8192.

I'm under the impression (judging solely from the photo, no official information) that the passenger train got rear-ended. In addition to the springs lying on the ground, there's a lot of damage to the end of the coach in the photo. Can't see anything derailed, but it looks like the one of the engines tried to climb up or (or actually under) the other one.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/16/14 13:53 by Rathole.

Realist Wrote:
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> Watch what happens to excursion liability
> insurance costs.


Don't even THINK about that one!

Dick Samuels
Oregon Pacific Railroad

Link to photos of the crash:

http://www.4029tv.com/news/29164984

Is their method of operation TWC? If so could be a DS fail in addition to restricted speed on part of crew. NTSB will be all over this one and cast a lot if light on old equipment sharing operations with line-haul freight traffic.

You can bet the risk-assessment is already on at A&M and will be closely watched by all in the tourist industry.