Article

2016-03-16 -Signs, Portents, and the Weather-

3/14 Train Wreck in Kansas may not be 'pilot error'

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Skidmark 2016-03-16 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11127 views ] Top

#1 No one is thinking about the rails buckling due to heat stress. Might not have been that hot, but the change in the weather can do it. But that amounts to mediocre maintenance. Possible link to man-made-climate-change!

Posted by Bobby 2016-03-16 11:23|| 2016-03-16 11:23|| Front Page Top

#2 The weather has been very stable up by Cimarron. No wild fluctuations in temperature, not hot, not cold, just very dry and unseasonably warm.

Posted by bman 2016-03-16 11:30|| 2016-03-16 11:30|| Front Page Top

#3 "Local authorities said they were checking whether a vehicle crash may have damaged the track before the accident."

"Man-made," but not of the "Global Warming" variety. Maybe something else?

Posted by Vast Right Wing Conspiracy 2016-03-16 12:41|| 2016-03-16 12:41|| Front Page Top

#4 WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A truck used to deliver feed to a business where cattle are fattened hit a train track and shifted it at least a foot before an Amtrak train derailed in southwest Kansas and injured at least 32 people, an investigator said Tuesday.

National Transportation Safety Board member Earl Weener did not say if the feed truck was the cause of the Amtrak Southwest Chief's accident the day earlier.

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2016-03-16 13:27|| 2016-03-16 13:27|| Front Page Top

#5 Current story is, local business truck crossed the rails, equipment banged the track, knocking it 12" or so out of place.

As bman noted, weather has been consistent, and this is a regularly used rail line (not just Amtrak) so any gradual damage or wear would have been spotted.

So guessing newbie/seasonal help or good idea fairy giving shortcuts.

Rail is pretty much straight. Amtrak stop in Dodge City 20 miles to the east of Cimarron.

Posted by swksvolFF 2016-03-16 13:43|| 2016-03-16 13:43|| Front Page Top

#6 AH9418 running on the inside track.

Posted by swksvolFF 2016-03-16 13:44|| 2016-03-16 13:44|| Front Page Top

#7 In other news, the graphics are merely word-free report on Marco Rubio's campaign.....

Posted by USN, Ret. 2016-03-16 15:54|| 2016-03-16 15:54|| Front Page Top

23:39 Rob Crawford
23:38 Rob Crawford
23:36 Alaska Paul
23:00 gorb
22:55 swksvolFF
22:48 Nguard
21:28 Thrailing Slaque2697
21:12 JosephMendiola
21:09 Blossom Unains5562
20:43 JohnQC
20:38 Frank G
20:31 Blossom Unains5562
20:16 Thrusotch Ulath5297
20:15 Whenter Borgia5224
20:11 Pliny Choth3689
20:08 Rex Mundi
19:56 Dale
19:51 Blossom Unains5562
19:46 lord garth
19:34 European Conservative
19:23 Alaska Paul
19:04 g(r)omgoru
18:52 lord garth
18:42 rjschwarz