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Amtrak Cascades 501 derails near Nisqually Junction


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#21 EvergreenRailfan

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Posted 19 December 2017 - 01:17 AM

Kevin, on local blogs, I have tried explaining the difference in the past, to no avail.

#22 CNJRoss

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Posted 19 December 2017 - 08:06 AM

CBS News/AP 12/19/17:
 

Amtrak train that derailed was going 80 mph in 30 mph zone: NTSB

 

 

DUPONT, Wash. -- Federal officials confirmed an Amtrak train was hurtling 50 mph over the speed limit when it careened off an overpass south of Seattle, spilling cars onto the highway below and killing at least three people.

 

Bella Dinh-Zarr, a National Transportation Safety Board member, said at a late-night news conference Monday that information from the event data recorder in the rear locomotive showed the train was traveling at 80 mph in a 30 mph zone when it derailed at 7:34 a.m. Mangled train cars ended up on top of each other - and one hung precariously over the freeway.

 

SNIP

 

About two hours after the accident, a U.S. official who was briefed on the investigation said he was told at least six people were killed. The official said he had no new information to explain the discrepancy in the numbers.  .  .  .

 

Continue here w/video report.



#23 CNJRoss

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Posted 19 December 2017 - 08:12 AM

The Seattle Times, updated 9:44 pm 12/18/17:
 

Cranes moved to site of deadly Amtrak derailment near Olympia

 

 

Cranes are being brought to the site of an Amtrak train that derailed Monday morning as it barreled toward an Interstate 5 overpass near Olympia, spilling onto the freeway and killing several people, officials said.

 

The Washington State Patrol confirmed at least three people died in the crash, but The Associated Press reported at least six deaths,  .  .  .

 

SNIP

 

The cranes will be used to stabilize the wreckage, including one car that was dangling precariously from the overpass. The southbound lanes of I-5 were completely blocked and would remain closed at least through Tuesday morning.

 

SNIP

 

In this stretch of track, a train engineer faces the challenge of decelerating in a short space, when approaching the curve and bypass, said John Hiatt, a longtime private investigator in train safety disputes.

 

“A downward grade coming into that curve, you’ve got that working against you. You’ve got to make a pretty good estimate of how to get that down from 81 to 30,” Hiatt said of the track, located near Mounts Road outside of DuPont. “From what I’ve heard, there were several complaints by engineers about this.”

 

More here.



#24 CNJRoss

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Posted 19 December 2017 - 08:49 AM

KOMO News, 12/18/17:
 

'Emergency! We are on the ground!' -- radio traffic from deadly Amtrak train derailment

 

 

TACOMA, Wash. -- The call came in from Amtrak 501 on its way to Portland on Monday morning.

 

"Emergency! Emergency! Emergency! We are on the ground!," the train's conductor reports to dispatchers with BNSF Railway.

 

Broadcastify.com provided the audio recordings via ABC News.

 

"We are on the bridge over I-5 near Nisqually ... on the freeway," the conductor reports. "Need EMS ASAP. Looks like they are already starting to show up."

 

Continue here w/video and audio.



#25 KevinKorell

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Posted 19 December 2017 - 11:47 AM

DUPONT, Wash. — The New York Times reports National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials on the scene found the Amtrak train bound from Seattle to Portland that crashed Monday was traveling at 80 miles per hour, on a stretch of track with a limit of 30 miles per hour, when it jumped the tracks and careened into I-5 and a stand of evergreens. At least three people were killed and about 100 were injured.

Train 501, carrying 77 passengers and seven crew members, derailed Monday morning on the inaugural run of a new route for Amtrak’s Cascades service. It was not clear how familiar the engineer was with that stretch of track, or whether that played a role in the crash. NTSB officials also reported that positive train control was not activated on the train.

"We have recommended PTC for decades," NTSB's T. Bella Dinh-Zarr told CNN on Tuesday. "Unfortunately the deadline was moved farther into the future, and every year that we wait to implement PTC to its fullest extent means that more people will be killed and injured." For the full story, click here.

Keywords

Amtrak   Cascades   derailment   investigation   NTSB   PTC   T. Bella Dinh-Zarr   

 

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#26 EvergreenRailfan

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Posted 19 December 2017 - 01:23 PM

First fatality to be released. Zack Willihoite, An IT Customer Service specialist at Pierce Transit and Director of Information Technology for All aboard Washington.

http://www.king5.com...e/281-500638211

#27 KevinKorell

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Posted 19 December 2017 - 05:19 PM

KIRO-TV, Channel 7 in Seattle, WA, 12/19/17:

 


'One of country's most respected' rail advocates killed in train crash

 

Rail enthusiast and Rail Passengers Association member Jim Hamre has been identified as one of three people who died in an Amtrak passenger train crash in Dupont Monday morning. 

 

The train was on an overpass when it derailed. Some cars toppled onto southbound I-5, striking vehicles, and at least one dangled from the trestle.

 

 

Story

 

I've heard Jim's name before.  Most probably from when I was actively getting newsletters from AAWA (All Aboard Washington, formerly Washington ARP).  I think he might have been a member in our circles back in the Prodigy days but we have no way of confirming that.



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#28 Lightning

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Posted 19 December 2017 - 05:37 PM

And of course another prominent member of All Aboard Washington, Zack Willhoite, also perished.  They were undoubtedly sitting together enjoying the ride until the derailment occurred.  Huge loss for the local (and national) rail enthusiast community.  Might have been heading to Centennial station in Lacey (Olympia) where Lloyd Flem (executive director of AAW) might have been waiting to meet them.


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#29 EvergreenRailfan

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Posted 19 December 2017 - 07:08 PM

I was on All Aboard Washington 's Facebook page Sunday asking a question if 508 was going to be the last train to use the old depot, answering it on his way to it? Zack! He mentioned buying the last ticket, and said the next minute, the agent had already packed up the computer. Had no idea that this would happen hours later.

Edited by EvergreenRailfan, 20 December 2017 - 04:02 AM.


#30 KevinKorell

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Posted 20 December 2017 - 02:00 AM


 

 


Amtrak Incident Hotline: 800-523-9101


 

Monday, December 18, 2017 9:44 p.m PT

 

The Amtrak Family Assistance Center is now open to assist passengers and families at the Courtyard Marriott in Tacoma. Additionally, families with questions about individuals can contact the Amtrak Incident Hotline at 800-523-9101.



Kevin Korell


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