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Train/truck collision near Paso Robles (9/17/14)
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That moron truck driver is lucky that Dead Man's Gulch wasn't named for him! Old time professional truck drivers are rolling in their graves!
Looks like the P-42 will need to hit the shop for a new nose, hopefully nothing more serious!
At least nobody died or was seriously injured! Hope the rest of the Amtrak equipment and engineer are OK and Amtrak's lawyers are on the ball so as to collect damages!!
Looks like the P-42 will need to hit the shop for a new nose, hopefully nothing more serious!
At least nobody died or was seriously injured! Hope the rest of the Amtrak equipment and engineer are OK and Amtrak's lawyers are on the ball so as to collect damages!!
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jis
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The train continued on its way to arrive at its destination at 4:30am.
the_traveler
Engineer
andersone
Conductor
The train always wins
Private at grade railroad crossing.
Fast moving passenger train.
One thinks only a cross buck sign at this location.
Does look like a over the road truck vs Farm truck. Farm truck are exempt from Hour of service, age of driver, and most training requirements. So yes this guy should of done better.
However several facts are missing before we tar and feather the driver. Sight lines and timing. It take about 18 seconds for a truck to get clear of a highway intersection. When could he see a train travel at speed? Was there time to react? Story stated he try to pull forward, was there traffic behind him? Did he have crops, building, or signs blocking his view?
Perception time: 1.5 seconds
Reaction time 1.0 seconds
Time for a truck at a stop to clear a intersection about 18 seconds.
Not much room for mistakes.
Of course the "I did not see the train" is a bad sign in itself.
Fast moving passenger train.
One thinks only a cross buck sign at this location.
Does look like a over the road truck vs Farm truck. Farm truck are exempt from Hour of service, age of driver, and most training requirements. So yes this guy should of done better.
However several facts are missing before we tar and feather the driver. Sight lines and timing. It take about 18 seconds for a truck to get clear of a highway intersection. When could he see a train travel at speed? Was there time to react? Story stated he try to pull forward, was there traffic behind him? Did he have crops, building, or signs blocking his view?
Perception time: 1.5 seconds
Reaction time 1.0 seconds
Time for a truck at a stop to clear a intersection about 18 seconds.
Not much room for mistakes.
Of course the "I did not see the train" is a bad sign in itself.
Ryan
Court Jester
This was 11(16)?
Here's a view of the crossing and the direction the train was coming from:
Yeah, I think we can go ahead and tar and feather the driver.
Here's a view of the crossing and the direction the train was coming from:
Yeah, I think we can go ahead and tar and feather the driver.
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This crossing was protected by a highway stop sign, as shown in Ryan's Google Streetview above. This is very common for private crossings. The statement that the driver saw the train too late to stop indicates that the he ran the stop sign. In addition, there are multiple warning signs posted on both sides of the crossing (in both english and spanish). Note that trains typically do not sound the horn for private crossings.
The terms of private crossing permits almost always (if not always) require the entity requesting the crossing to assume all liability for accidents, and most likely also requires railroad protective liability insurance of a specified (very high) amount. I suspect that Amtrak (through Union Pacific) will be made whole for any damages.
The terms of private crossing permits almost always (if not always) require the entity requesting the crossing to assume all liability for accidents, and most likely also requires railroad protective liability insurance of a specified (very high) amount. I suspect that Amtrak (through Union Pacific) will be made whole for any damages.
Devil's Advocate
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Those sound like several important factors to consider before fouling the right of way. So far as I am aware that's the truck driver's responsibility. I can't imagine who else would be responsible. If it's not safe to cross then maybe the truck shouldn't be entering the danger zone in the first place. I mean am I really expecting too much here? Where I live crossings have phone numbers to call if they're observed to be malfunctioning or otherwise unsafe for use. Isn't that the case everywhere? So call the number and see what can be done before you risk everything. Seems pretty simple to me.
Where I live private crossings always get horns and often have lights and even gates as well. We do have several silent crossings but those are all public.
Considering that the train experiences physical damage, the passengers experience extended delays, the railroad experiences financial loss, and the staff experience increased stress I'm not sure I'd call it "winning." If anything I'd say the train always loses.
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Well I have a old Duvet for the feather anyone have some tar?
Only two problem with Ryan's street view pic. It hard to pick any detail out of the background, and sunshine might of been a issue.
But that red sign with letters STOP both sides of the tracks is a good reason for some tar and feathers.
I still can understand what the driver could of been thinking and how he went wrong. Just as I can see how easy that this could of been prevent, and how easy it could happen again.
Crack windows open both sides. (Allow sounds of train horn into the cab.)
Check tracks for trains before you focus on checking the road for cars.
Full and complete Stop several feet off the Stop signs. (Driver may of feel he was too close and would be hit. So he moved forward after he spotted the train.)[several recent at grade events were credit to this].
Only two problem with Ryan's street view pic. It hard to pick any detail out of the background, and sunshine might of been a issue.
But that red sign with letters STOP both sides of the tracks is a good reason for some tar and feathers.
I still can understand what the driver could of been thinking and how he went wrong. Just as I can see how easy that this could of been prevent, and how easy it could happen again.
Crack windows open both sides. (Allow sounds of train horn into the cab.)
Check tracks for trains before you focus on checking the road for cars.
Full and complete Stop several feet off the Stop signs. (Driver may of feel he was too close and would be hit. So he moved forward after he spotted the train.)[several recent at grade events were credit to this].
You can do a full 360 degree view from multiple locations using Street View in Google Earth for the location. It is obvious that trees and shrubbery nor hilly/uneven terrain are not an issue in obstructing the view down the tracks in either direction. The crossing has a long clear line of sight in both directions. I suspect that the driver did not stop at the crossing, but just drove right through it. If he saw the train at all, he may have assumed it was a slow moving freight train and drove through figuring to beat the train.
George Harris
Engineer
Except that the freights in this area are not slow moving, either. The railroad is near flat so the freights can achieve and maintain the speed limit, which is, I think 60 mph, but that is without looking it up.
VentureForth
Engineer
Forget about the train for a moment - why would a truck be going 50 MPH just before making a 90-degree turn? Either turning into the tracks or turning onto Sargent Canyon Rd - regardless of the stop signs - the truck would HAVE to slow to turn.
It's certainly not like the 45-degree or so crossing that John Davis Trucking ran into the CZ on.
Something isn't smelling right here.
It's certainly not like the 45-degree or so crossing that John Davis Trucking ran into the CZ on.
Something isn't smelling right here.
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Where do you get that the truck was going 50 mph? The only speed reported in the original news report was that the train was going 50 mph and braked to 35 mph before hitting the truck.
Ryan
Court Jester
VentureForth
Engineer
Thank you BOTH for correcting my wayward thinking and misunderreading the statement.
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