Eastern Railroad Discussion > Death on CSX

Carman at Walbridge was killed at 3:40 AM today. Few details being released. Other than being pinned in between cars being shoved by a RCO.

Posted from iPhone



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/17/23 18:14 by farmer.

Absolutely horrible. Prayers to his family...

Posted from Android

My God--another reason to hate those damn RCO units.  Bring back humans actually communicating with each other, and looking out for one another while on the job.  This is really horrible.

This type of thing is becoming too common.  The industry is failing on all things. Rest in peace, Brother.

Eng.Shadetree

https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/railroad-worker-pinned-between-rail-cars-killed-sunday-in-walbridge-ntsb-investigating/512-76d0bf0e-80e4-4c21-81cb-87410de79ad1

coach Wrote:
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> My God--another reason to hate those damn RCO
> units.  Bring back humans actually communicating
> with each other, and looking out for one another
> while on the job.  This is really horrible.

Yeah, this sort of thing NEVER happens with an engineer on the train...<sarcasm here>

The reality is, working in a railroad yard can be very dangerous - one MUST ALWAYS be careful and pay attention to where one is and what's going on around you.  Even one time in letting one's self lose attention or focus can be extremely tragic.  Too many times, I've seen employees where I work be careless and take chances; like not leaving room around the end of a car when walking around it just to save a few steps, or not taking the time to provide one's self protection while working in a track.  I don't know the particulars in this accident, and I don't want to know - unless something can be learned from it to prevent it from happening again.  But we don't need some foamer commenting on what happened here when they have absolutely no idea what it was.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/19/23 06:56 by wyeth.

coach Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My God--another reason to hate those damn RCO
> units.  Bring back humans actually communicating
> with each other, and looking out for one another
> while on the job.  This is really horrible.


So you know the facts, huh? In this particular case having an engineer on the locomotives wouldn’t have prevented this tragedy… situational awareness and human complacency are our worst enemies on the railroad and in most work places for that matter. Simply put you don’t cross or foul tracks without proper protection or know for a fact there isn’t any approaching equipment.

Posted from iPhone



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/18/23 19:51 by JOHNY5ALIVE.

Mr Johnny 5:

Do you know what the specifics of operating remotes are? Things like zones and the absence of point protection inside them?

Please expound on this.

Regards

Posted from iPhone

We know switchmen have been killed in an accidents when there's an engineer in the cab.

So I'm genuinely curious: what makes RCL operations inherently more dangerous, especially in a large yard environment?

Condolences for the family and friends of the deceased railroader.

Nasty way to die.

Drknow Wrote:
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> Mr Johnny 5:
>
> Do you know what the specifics of operating
> remotes are? Things like zones and the absence of
> point protection inside them?
>
> Please expound on this.
>
> Regards
>
> Posted from iPhone

I most certainly do. I am FRA licensed CO, EN, and a RCO operator and have been now for a little over 28 years. While very tragic and unfortunate we as railroaders have to and must stay vigilant and never become complacent and take short cuts. I always tell my fellow crew members especially the trainees and newer employees, personal safety commitment is just that doing things the right way even when it seems mundane and routine. In this industry you can get away with taking a short cut 999 times but that 1,000th time that short cut may have dire consequences.

And to answer your question point protection is not always required once the remote zone has been established, swept, and active. There is nothing unsafe with a remote control operation if all the necessary precautions are taken. In fact, statistically speaking remote operations actually have lower incident rates than conventional jobs per the FRA. However, I will agree there should be some astrixs next to that because there are some different situations and etc.

Do you wish to take another condescending snarky swipe Dr. Know?



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 09/19/23 18:11 by JOHNY5ALIVE.

No I’ll just let you talk.

Regards

Posted from iPhone

Drknow Wrote:
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> No I’ll just let you talk.
>
> Regards
>
> Posted from iPhone

I figured as much….. kinda hard to dispute actual facts. And for the record somebody who refers to themselves as DR should know I wasn’t talking but rather communicating by writing. 😁



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/19/23 23:01 by JOHNY5ALIVE.

Question, Johny5:

What is a FRA certified “CO, EN”?

Please type a response. As technically you are neither talking or writing.

Regards

Posted from iPhone

Whatever became of the three-step procedure on CSX?

A few questions:

1) Who was actually controlling the remote unit/units?

2) Was the Carmen that was killed working on a track that was blue flagged?

3) What was the crew size involved in those yard moves?

HotWater Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A few questions:
>
> 1) Who was actually controlling the remote
> unit/units?
>
> 2) Was the Carmen that was killed working on a
> track that was blue flagged?
>
> 3) What was the crew size involved in those yard
> moves?

1. The remote control operator was controlling the locomotive. He was at the coupling to make the coupling.

2. No, carman was not working the track yet. The fatally injured carman pulled up in his truck got out and never looked before crossing the track to begin the process of locking out the track to start the inspection. This was the carman’s first move after taking his lunch.

3. This particular remote job was a two person crew.

Posted from iPhone

JOHNY5ALIVE Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> HotWater Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > A few questions:
> >
> > 1) Who was actually controlling the remote
> > unit/units?
> >
> > 2) Was the Carmen that was killed working on a
> > track that was blue flagged?
> >
> > 3) What was the crew size involved in those
> yard
> > moves?
>
> 1. The remote control operator was controlling the
> locomotive. He was at the coupling to make the
> coupling.
>
> 2. No, carman was not working the track yet. The
> fatally injured carman pulled up in his truck got
> out and never looked before crossing the track to
> begin the process of locking out the track to
> start the inspection. This was the carman’s
> first move after taking his lunch.
>
> 3. This particular remote job was a two person
> crew.


Thanks for the correct information. So, even if it was a "manned" locomotive with a ground man, the Carman walking right into the moving consist, would still have been struck.

Yes, I would say that is an accurate statement.

Posted from iPhone

JOHNY5ALIVE Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No, carman was not working the track yet. The fatally injured carman pulled up in his truck got
> out and never looked before crossing the track to begin the process of locking out the track to
> start the inspection. This was the carman’s first move after taking his lunch.
>
> This particular remote job was a two person crew.

Thank you for the detals on this specific incident. Without looking at the facts it is easy to assume that an operator ran themselves over with their own train instead of getting in the way of another move. But this particular incident could have easily happened with a manned engine.