The switch that wasn't lined, and locked. Have you seen this video?

Question

Remember the old saying (Sleeping at the switch?) Well here is video proof, that saying can come true. Type in. (The Etter, Tx train Wreck) on Utube See it for yourself. This has to be a engineers worst fear.

Answer 1

....finally looked at that one.  I actually know the guy that left that switch open.  His nickname is Frenchy.  He wears a hat like the french painters wore back in the day.  He got fired for a year I believe.......and works out of Amarillo.    Supposedly he "thought" the brakeman lined the switch back but they never had a "briefing."  When a track warrant is now issued...you have to state .....All switches operated are in the normal or reverse position, and you now have to state that they are locked and that you have completed documentation on the position of switch form.  THANKS FRENCHY!!!!

Answer 2

Great!

JUST GREAT!!!

Made me pucker up so bad and suck up enough leather, now I'm stuck to my friggin' chair...

I hope you're happy!

Answer 3

Yeah that's right up near the top of what scares us.That wreck and one or two others has changed the rules about how switches are handled in dark territory.We have to report that the switch is lined back and the crew members have to sign a form stating that the switch has been normaled.

High speed derailments and opposing trains over running a stop signal are a couple of others we worry about.Heavy equipment like this is very unforgiving when things go wrong.We had a rail break under our lead unit one night and went in the ditch at 65mph.We derailed everything but the lead unit and the rear car of our train.We survived that one by the grace of god.

This one on the BNSF is nasty http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2jUYNimD...

You can see the signal go double red right in their face.Not a good feeling at all.

Answer 4

That is HEAVY! its the horrible inevitability, it doesnt come out of nowhere, just trundles along into the cars. So what happened? the signal engineer didnt switch the points? is that right. Hideous.