http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3783389/Passengers-injured-vintage-train-hits-tractor-derails-light-railway-driver-leap-carriage-safety.html

Our English steam expert at the museum (who was fireman on 1630 today) is familiar with this line. It's 15" gauge. A few years ago, they had an accident in which the engine driver was killed.

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

Speaking of the museum, it was a very pleasant weekend (when it wasn't raining).

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

Speaking of the museum, it was a very pleasant weekend (when it wasn't raining).

Since the outrage was in full swing when I felt like writing about the weekend, I wrote it at Einstein instead. It's much briefer than usual, both days in one post.

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

BBC2's "Great American Railroad Journeys" filmed a segment last week with Friends of the 261, including a trip to Chicago on Saturday in Super Dome 53 and Cedar Rapids. It is expected to air next spring.

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

From DNA Info Chicago:
Where Do CTA Train Cars Go After They're Retired?

CHICAGO — When CTA train cars carry their last rider, they don't always head straight to the scrap yard.

Most of the cars, which remain in use for at least 25 years, are indeed sold for scrap metal and other precious parts. But a select few are saved from demolition — either by rail museums, private individuals or the CTA itself.

The cars are sold for between $1,500 and $6,000, according to Illinois Railway Museum executive director Nick Kallas, whose museum has several CTA cars and their predecessors — streetcars — which last hit the Chicago streets in 1958.

CTA spokeswoman Irene Ferradaz said all types of CTA train cars are in railway museums across the country.

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We came close to a major disaster in the UK today.

Two hurt as train derailed in flood landslide near Watford Junction

Commuter train hit a small landslip at the entrance to a tunnel. De-railed but stayed upright, continued under emergency braking until it came to a stop fully inside the tunnel. Must have stayed near enough in guage, because a train entering the tunnel from the opposite end struck it a glancing blow and scraped along the side, until also stopping inside the tunnel.

If the landslip had been just a little bigger, that could have been a head-on collision inside the tunnel - I can't think of much worse for the emergency services to deal with. Fortunately, both trains were probably powered by electricity, so there was no diesel fuel to catch fire...

From DNA Info Chicago:
Where Do CTA Train Cars Go After They're Retired?

CHICAGO — When CTA train cars carry their last rider, they don't always head straight to the scrap yard.

Most of the cars, which remain in use for at least 25 years, are indeed sold for scrap metal and other precious parts. But a select few are saved from demolition — either by rail museums, private individuals or the CTA itself.

The cars are sold for between $1,500 and $6,000, according to Illinois Railway Museum executive director Nick Kallas, whose museum has several CTA cars and their predecessors — streetcars — which last hit the Chicago streets in 1958.

CTA spokeswoman Irene Ferradaz said all types of CTA train cars are in railway museums across the country.

I know Nick, and he knows me. Not real well, but we know each other.

We have examples of at least nine different types of cars from the CTA and its predecessors, plus two vintages of Illinois Central. We also have a car from Philadelphia and a pair from New York. I don't even know how many streetcars we have, or interurbans.

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

We came close to a major disaster in the UK today.

Two hurt as train derailed in flood landslide near Watford Junction

Commuter train hit a small landslip at the entrance to a tunnel. De-railed but stayed upright, continued under emergency braking until it came to a stop fully inside the tunnel. Must have stayed near enough in guage, because a train entering the tunnel from the opposite end struck it a glancing blow and scraped along the side, until also stopping inside the tunnel.

If the landslip had been just a little bigger, that could have been a head-on collision inside the tunnel - I can't think of much worse for the emergency services to deal with. Fortunately, both trains were probably powered by electricity, so there was no diesel fuel to catch fire...

That does sound like it could have been much worse.

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

Commuter trains in that area are all electric, and use a different set of bores to the mainline stuff. Another good ting is that the traction supplies are protected by "quick trips" in that area due to a few previous unpleasant incidents.

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

Even without a major fire risk, there could have been a lot of casualties from a more severe collision.

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

We have examples of at least nine different types of cars from the CTA and its predecessors, plus two vintages of Illinois Central.

BTW, I'm looking forward to riding the oldest and almost newest of those cars tomorrow. I'll be in full foamer mode, out of uniform, camera around my neck*, until after dinner, when I go on duty on a plain old steam coach train.


*Which reminds me, I need to put my camera's battery on the charger.

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

http://abc7.com/news/amtrak-train-in-chatsworth-evacuated-after-report-of-man-with-gun/1515186/

Amtrak train in Chatsworth evacuated after report of man with gun

CHATSWORTH, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- An Amtrak train stopped in Chatsworth has been evacuated after a report of a man with a gun.

The incident involving Train 790, the Pacific Surfliner, was reported at 6:19 p.m. The train stopped at the Chatsworth station and was evacuated. The train where the man with the gun was report has been isolated.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has responded to the scene.

Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner travels from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and San Diego.

The incident is causing delays in other trains. Metrolink tweeted that its Ventura County Line 121 to Moorpark is stopped at Northridge. VC Line 119 to East Ventura had been delayed up to 45 minutes and VC Line 117 to East Ventura had also been delayed up to 90 minutes. VC Line 123 to East Ventura was held at the Van Nuys station.

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The train stopped at the Chatsworth station and was evacuated. The train where the man with the gun was report has been isolated.

Prompted by Railfan, Grammar Cop awakens with a roar... GGRRRRRRRRRR!!!

In the second quoted sentence, the word "train" should be "car." A train can be a single car, but when a train is more than one car, then a single car within the train is not also called a train. People who do that drive me nuts.

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

The train stopped at the Chatsworth station and was evacuated. The train where the man with the gun was report has been isolated.

Prompted by Railfan, Grammar Cop awakens with a roar... GGRRRRRRRRRR!!!

In the second quoted sentence, the word "train" should be "car." A train can be a single car, but when a train is more than one car, then a single car within the train is not also called a train. People who do that drive me nuts.

You're the pro here David, We're the amateurs in this department, so maybe a little slack would be in order? Just saying.

I try not to be a grammar cop, considering our international audience, that would in My opinion be a colossal waste of time.

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

The train stopped at the Chatsworth station and was evacuated. The train where the man with the gun was report has been isolated.

Prompted by Railfan, Grammar Cop awakens with a roar... GGRRRRRRRRRR!!!

In the second quoted sentence, the word "train" should be "car." A train can be a single car, but when a train is more than one car, then a single car within the train is not also called a train. People who do that drive me nuts.

You're the pro here David, We're the amateurs in this department, so maybe a little slack would be in order? Just saying.

I try not to be a grammar cop, considering our international audience, that would in My opinion be a colossal waste of time.

He can go after the news idiots all he wants. Presumably they had to take some English classes to get their degree.

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http://ktla.com/2016/09/17/man-arrested-after-allegedly-barricading-himself-in-amtrak-train-bathroom-with-gun/

A man was arrested early Saturday after allegedly barricading himself in an Amtrak Train bathroom with a gun in Chatsworth, promoting an evacuation and hourslong standoff , officials said.

The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Train stopped about 6:20 p.m. Friday in Chatsworth after a report of a person with a weapon. All 187 passengers and five crew members got off the train and were provided alternate transportation.

The man apparently barricaded himself in the bathroom and authorities at the scene tired to coax him out.

The man, Darius Palmer, 46, of Oxnard, was eventually apprehended by Amtrak Police and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s officials about 2 a.m. Saturday, said Amtrak spokeswoman Christina Leeds.

“He did have a handgun,” she said.

A tweet from the sheriff’s department’s special enforcement bureau showed a man in a cap, green shirt and khaki shorts being taken into custody. The sheriff’s department indicated tear gas was used before Palmer surrendered.

He was expected to be booked by the Amtrak Police Department, she added.

Amtrak trains 564 and 574 are canceled Saturday and passengers will be accommodated on other trains.

The Surfliner was heading to San Diego from San Luis Obispo, Leeds said.

Amtrak policy prohibits firearms in carry-on bags. Passengers are allowed to check rifles, shotguns and handguns if they meet certain requirements.

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The train stopped at the Chatsworth station and was evacuated. The train where the man with the gun was report has been isolated.

Prompted by Railfan, Grammar Cop awakens with a roar... GGRRRRRRRRRR!!!

In the second quoted sentence, the word "train" should be "car." A train can be a single car, but when a train is more than one car, then a single car within the train is not also called a train. People who do that drive me nuts.

You're the pro here David, We're the amateurs in this department, so maybe a little slack would be in order? Just saying.

I try not to be a grammar cop, considering our international audience, that would in My opinion be a colossal waste of time.

He can go after the news idiots all he wants. Presumably they had to take some English classes to get their degree.

Precisely. I could say plenty to a number of people here, but choose not to (as much as it grates on my nerves).

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

From DNA Info Chicago:

The cars are sold for between $1,500 and $6,000, according to Illinois Railway Museum executive director Nick Kallas, whose museum has several CTA cars and their predecessors — streetcars — which last hit the Chicago streets in 1958.

I know Nick, and he knows me. Not real well, but we know each other.

Well, I thought he knew me, until he called me Tom on Saturday. When I protested, he tried Walt, which some of you know is the name I use on Facebook. But, he came through and got me a dinner ticket after they were sold out, so I'll forgive him.

---

David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

Relatively relaxing weekend at the museum. As intended, I spent most of it in foamer mode, not in uniform, camera around my neck (but with my radio so I could keep track of what was happening). Got there comfortably in time for the first public trip of the Metra Highliners, a rather short trip just past the Boot Creek bridge, short turn West Switch, return to 2. Then I managed to get on board for the first public trip of Northwest Elevated 24, which was rather delayed by other traffic (mainly the Highliners being put away). It, along with 1797 and 1268, ran very nicely to the Grove and back, and we all gave the lead restoration guy a round of applause. He said instead of applauding, we should all petition B&G for a decent restoration shop, with heat in it in the winter. Then I wandered up to the tower for a bit. I had thought the dispatcher deliberately ran the Highliners around the wye so he would not have two 1630s at the same time, but he said no, that was what they requested (maybe that was their reason, but I doubt it). Having gone up there, I missed the first run of Milwaukee Electric 972, but I rode the third and fourth trips of it. I never got a picture of it, though.

After a visit to the euphemism, I remembered that I needed to buy a ticket for dinner... and learned that they were sold out. That was when I went looking for Nick, and he put the wrong name on his list. He did come through and get me dinner, though, so I can't say anything too bad about him. Then I got into uniform (i.e., stowed the camera and changed my shirt) to be conductor of 1630 for the night runs.

Steam crew had wanted to uncouple and bring the teakettle over to the West Wye so they could keep an eye on it during dinner, so we had to get coupled up again; however, repeating the initial brake test was not necessary. They gave me a set and I walked down one side (since I had to walk back from the engine anyway) and then we tested the tailhose and that was that. Before we could do that, though, a couple of guys from Coach Dept. blue flagged the train to run an extension cord under it to a battery charger for Galt House's generator. It failed to start, so the whole train was dark inside except for the dyno car. I left my lit lantern in the rear car for a bit of visibility, but with no place to hang it, it didn't help much. Fortunately, no one tripped and got hurt. I expected a lot of passengers on the night runs, but I didn't have them. Less than a dozen in the rear with me (several of them other volunteers, including Trainmaster, who had set up the light so I could see going backwards) and not a whole lot up front either. Return was slightly delayed by the control jumper falling out of 24, so it went to bed for the night. After the first trip, the trainman up front (who'd been on during the day also) wanted to quit. He was getting sleepy and had an hour to drive home. I said close up your cars and go. I went to help him with that and got the dyno guys to help too, so trainman left (with his GF and another friend and his wife). Second trip, with only one car open, I had more passengers with me, but still only half full. Steam crew said they wanted to make this the last trip (they were a fresh crew, but they were worried about getting through another day with the coal load; I don't know why they can't just fire up the bucket in the morning and add a bit, except that Sunday was their last day for the season). Dispatcher said to pull the train to the far east end of the track so the Zephyr could get in behind us, which seemed like a good idea at the time. However, Zephyr got a new engineer and made another trip and returned to 1. Meanwhile, 1848 had gone out light engine for a joy ride and parked on the West Wye, but it couldn't stay there because 1630 had to go to bed. 1848 coupled to the west end of my train and pulled it back to the west end of 2, then Zephyr (with Trainmaster acting as conductor) pulled out of 1 and backed into 2 on top of me with about 30 feet to spare. CA&E and North Shore had both been sent around the Car Line a few times, but gotten short shrift on mainline runs (mainly due to the problem with 24), but NS was still sitting there at Depot St. with potential passengers, so it followed 1848's second joy ride, after which everybody went to bed.

Sunday, I slept a bit late, made a couple other stops, forgot my camera, got there at 3:20, rode the Zephyr twice and into the barn, and went to dinner with the guys.

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2016/09/26/deadly-crash-closes-metro-expo-line-in-downtown-la/

A motorcyclist has been fatally struck by a train in downtown Los Angeles, police said Monday.

The deadly crash unfolded around 1:30 a.m. in the area of Washington Boulevard and Flower Street.

Upon their arrival, authorities located a motorcycle overturned in the railroad tracks.

The motorcyclist’s body came to rest about five blocks away.

Paramedics pronounced the victim dead at the scene. His identity is being withheld pending family notification.

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