Re: (erielack) More on AMTRAK

["Tom Beckett" <tabeckett_@_stny.rr.com>]

1. News organizations, as a rule, have no clue about transportation issues,
especially railroads.

2. Train wrecks tend to be big, loud, and messy, hence very attractive to a
TV camera. Which brings in viewers, which brings in ad dollars.

To wit: it's the money.

Tom B
- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Ken" <erie910_@_harborbeach.com>
To: "ed montgomery" <emontgomery_@_paxway.com>; <erielack@lists.railfan.net>
Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2002 12:24 AM
Subject: Re: (erielack) More on AMTRAK


> It's off-topic, but I'll ask why the national network news (ABC, CBS
radio)
> had to refer to a crash of some time ago involving two trains.  There's
> obviously no connection and no plausible reason to tie the two stories
> together.
>
>
> Ken B.
>
> At 07:13 PM 7/29/02 +0000, ed montgomery wrote:
> >This is a very hot day in the DC area with temperatures throughout the
area in
> >the 90s.  Here in Annandale it is 92 degrees.  The heat index is over
100.
> >I'm wondering if this might have contributed to the derailment. Car 7 of
the
> >train derailed into a wooded area and there is a major effort to
extricate
> >people from that car.  It is interesting to observe that the passenger
cars
> >are the ones that derailed.  The mail handler cars on the end are upright
and
> >appear to be on the track.  The wreck is at the intersection of
Plyerstown
> >Road and Connecticut Avenue. very close to where the Capitol Limited and
a
> >MARC commuter train collided in the mid 90s in the snow in February of
that
> >year.
> >
> >One observer said the derailment sounded like a big trash truck dumping
off a
> >dumpster alot of loud banging. The train came close to, but did not hit a
> >residence next to the ROW.
> >
> >I'm amazed to see the reaction of the TV reporters.  They are assuming
that
> >there aren't many passengers on board because it did not occur during the
rush
> >hour.  Another thought the train would be turned around to take commuters
home
> >this evening.  Not to observant.  One described the signal bridge as a
> >"traffic light" for the engineer to alert him that the Kensington Station
was
> >just ahead.  Obviously not to informed.
> >
> >The Superliner lodged in the tree has fire and rescue people cutting
holes in
> >the roof to gain access to the passengers.  It is reported that at least
60
> >people needing medical attention, 6 with traumatic injuries. They are
> >reporting that the last patient was extricated at 3:06 PM.  Fire and
rescue
> >are making the final search of the train right now.
> >
> >Ed Montgomery
>
>

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