DC to NYC Amtrak Derailment - 5 Dead So Far

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mekender
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DC to NYC Amtrak Derailment - 5 Dead So Far

Post by mekender »

“I no longer need to run as a Presidential Candidate for the Socialist Party. The Democrat Party has adopted our platform.” - Norman Thomas, a six time candidate for president for the Socialist Party, 1944
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Steamforger
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Re: DC to NYC Amtrak Derailment - 5 Dead So Far

Post by Steamforger »

The article mentions an earlier wreck in Amite, LA. There's just something about Tangipahoa and trains....
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mekender
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Re: DC to NYC Amtrak Derailment - 5 Dead So Far

Post by mekender »

Steamforger wrote:The article mentions an earlier wreck in Amite, LA. There's just something about Tangipahoa and trains....
Yea people getting their vehicles hit by trains seems to be an indication to me that they should not be driving in the first place...

And while we are on the subject, I have never understood the logic behind "this vehicle stops at all railroad crossings"... It seems that physics would dictate that going at speed over the track would make you much more likely to get across safely than stopping and then trying to accelerate through the crossing at a much slower speed.
“I no longer need to run as a Presidential Candidate for the Socialist Party. The Democrat Party has adopted our platform.” - Norman Thomas, a six time candidate for president for the Socialist Party, 1944
Greg
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Re: DC to NYC Amtrak Derailment - 5 Dead So Far

Post by Greg »

mekender wrote:
Steamforger wrote:The article mentions an earlier wreck in Amite, LA. There's just something about Tangipahoa and trains....
Yea people getting their vehicles hit by trains seems to be an indication to me that they should not be driving in the first place...

And while we are on the subject, I have never understood the logic behind "this vehicle stops at all railroad crossings"... It seems that physics would dictate that going at speed over the track would make you much more likely to get across safely than stopping and then trying to accelerate through the crossing at a much slower speed.
The point is to stop and look, not just stop, wait and then hope for the best. I believe it came about because of an incident where the crossing gate failed (never activated) when a train was coming, and a bus crossing got a rude surprise.

I agree it's mostly useless, and primarily serves to delay and annoy people behind the bus, possibly leading them to do risky things in their annoyance (race the gate to not have a stupid bus in front of you cost you the chance to clear the train, etc). But we live in a very risk-averse society, so it is what it is.
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Steamforger
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Re: DC to NYC Amtrak Derailment - 5 Dead So Far

Post by Steamforger »

Not that I expect ya'll to know this, but it isn't just people getting hit by trains down there. Entire families are being wiped out in certain crossings. Not only are the drivers and pedestrians not paying attention, but the designs of the crossings are just piss poor as well.
Old Grafton
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Re: DC to NYC Amtrak Derailment - 5 Dead So Far

Post by Old Grafton »

The White House was running the yap on the Amtrak situation as an excuse to attack the eeevul Republicans wanting to cut Amtrak funding, even though the proximate cause of the wreck appears to be an operator doing 106 mph in a curve rated for 50 mph.There's no level too low to which the dirtbags will sink.
I'm not old--It's too early to be this late.
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mekender
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Re: DC to NYC Amtrak Derailment - 5 Dead So Far

Post by mekender »

Old Grafton wrote:The White House was running the yap on the Amtrak situation as an excuse to attack the eeevul Republicans wanting to cut Amtrak funding, even though the proximate cause of the wreck appears to be an operator doing 106 mph in a curve rated for 50 mph.There's no level too low to which the dirtbags will sink.
"Silly teabagger, you know if they just paid that poor old conductor a "living wage" he would have been much more careful about his job... Besides, he is probably a minority that was being oppressed somehow"
“I no longer need to run as a Presidential Candidate for the Socialist Party. The Democrat Party has adopted our platform.” - Norman Thomas, a six time candidate for president for the Socialist Party, 1944
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evan price
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Re: DC to NYC Amtrak Derailment - 5 Dead So Far

Post by evan price »

mekender wrote:
Old Grafton wrote:The White House was running the yap on the Amtrak situation as an excuse to attack the eeevul Republicans wanting to cut Amtrak funding, even though the proximate cause of the wreck appears to be an operator doing 106 mph in a curve rated for 50 mph.There's no level too low to which the dirtbags will sink.
"Silly teabagger, you know if they just paid that poor old conductor a "living wage" he would have been much more careful about his job... Besides, he is probably a minority that was being oppressed somehow"
Pix of the engineer looks like a white dude.
Physics is a cruel mother. 106 in a 50 is just too fast.
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MarkD
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Re: DC to NYC Amtrak Derailment - 5 Dead So Far

Post by MarkD »

evan price wrote:
mekender wrote:
Old Grafton wrote:The White House was running the yap on the Amtrak situation as an excuse to attack the eeevul Republicans wanting to cut Amtrak funding, even though the proximate cause of the wreck appears to be an operator doing 106 mph in a curve rated for 50 mph.There's no level too low to which the dirtbags will sink.
"Silly teabagger, you know if they just paid that poor old conductor a "living wage" he would have been much more careful about his job... Besides, he is probably a minority that was being oppressed somehow"
Pix of the engineer looks like a white dude.
Physics is a cruel mother. 106 in a 50 is just too fast.
The engineer was accustomed to Metric.
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Vonz90
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Re: DC to NYC Amtrak Derailment - 5 Dead So Far

Post by Vonz90 »

Kinda sucks, apparently my son was friends with the Mid who died in the crash.
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