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Train Check

Edgy MD Dec 01 2013 01:55 PM

Here's hoping none of our number are among the victims of the Metro North derailment in the Bronx. Many of my best college times were spent hiking the right of way north and south of the Spuyten Duyvil station where the wreck occurred. It was transcendent, as it often is when you find your own piece of silent green solace in the midst of a teeming city. It always seemed to be a well-cared-for stretch of track. But what do I know?

themetfairy Dec 01 2013 02:01 PM Re: Train Check

Not among the victims, thankfully, but my middle guy and his roommate are heading back to Marist this evening. Word is that the Amtrak trains are running again, but with delays. I've taken that train myself, and it's indeed a beautiful ride. Scary as all hell to hear the news this morning, and so sad.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 01 2013 02:46 PM Re: Train Check

Anecdotal reports suggest that the train was moving excessively fast. We'll see what the NTSB finds out.

d'Kong76 Dec 01 2013 03:13 PM Re: Train Check

That's my line into the city now, and when I was growing up. It's a crazy turn, not to be done quickly. Suppose it happening early Sunday morning and not on a weekday when there may have been many more on that train is the only positive thing that can be said. The Dutch named that area Spitting Devil. It's where the Hudson meets the Harlem River and the waters can be difficult to navigate.

metirish Dec 01 2013 03:47 PM Re: Train Check

My favorite train station name I think ever. When I lived in Yorktown I would take that line. Not saying anything new here but the infrastructure is falling apart, although speed may have been an issue here as stated above.

Edgy MD Dec 01 2013 04:14 PM Re: Train Check

So who else are our Metro North are posters? Hudson River Linemen, come out wherever you are.

metirish Dec 01 2013 04:24 PM Re: Train Check

I think most of the train commuters on this forum take the Harlem line.

soupcan Dec 01 2013 04:56 PM Re: Train Check

I'm a New Haven line MetroNorther so thankfully I was nowhere near it. Horrible story. The trains have been incredibly bad for the latter 2/3 of this year. There was the crash/derailment in Bridgeport, the power outage in the Bronx and the fact that a large portion of the veteran train crews all took early retirement or buyouts plans leaving the rail with very little in the way of experienced crewmen. As a result, the lines have all been running much slower than usual and rarely are they even arriving at stations at the precise times they should. It's really outrageous for a system as large as it is to be so unsafe and undependable. The only reason this is allowed to continue is because unfortunately there are no viable alternatives. They are the only game in town and the system is managed as if they know it. Now 4 people are dead.

metirish Dec 01 2013 05:21 PM Re: Train Check

Interesting thoughts on the veteran crew members taking buyouts or early retirement . It's happening in healthcare too, at my hospital a lot of experienced staff took those options and thus patient care results have tanked but admin doesn't are because they have saved money. Yeah, four dead with a dozen critical in are hospitals. very sad.

MFS62 Dec 01 2013 05:26 PM Re: Train Check

When I take Metro North (when it snows) I take the Danbury branch train to South Norwalk, then transfer to the main New Haven line. I'm used to seeing a diesel in the rear of the train like the one today. There's no roundhouse in South Norwalk for the train to turn around, so the engine is in the rear for one way of the round trip. I grew up in Inwood in upper Manhattan, and played near where the accident took place. Sad. Later

d'Kong76 Dec 01 2013 05:38 PM Re: Train Check

There was a bad freight accident close to this site not too log ago. Don't remember what the reason was after investigation. Best to leave the discussion on the state of the suburban train system until they tell us what went wrong. They've sunk a lot of money and time into The Hudson Line tracks and stations and the service is pretty good by most accounts. It's about time, it always took third fiddle to the Harlem and New Haven Lines.

Fman99 Dec 01 2013 06:04 PM Re: Train Check

Taken many trips in and out of NYC via the Metro North from Poughkeepsie, that town being just a 30 minute drive from where I grew up. Scary stuff.

themetfairy Dec 01 2013 07:23 PM Re: Train Check

I'm pretty amazed that this evening's Amtrak trains to Poughkeepsie departed on time.

soupcan Dec 02 2013 07:34 AM Re: Train Check

Interesting thoughts on the veteran crew members taking buyouts or early retirement . It's happening in healthcare too, at my hospital a lot of experienced staff took those options and thus patient care results have tanked but admin doesn't are because they have saved money. They're not just thoughts, they are facts as related to the ridership from MetroNorth itself. They have officially stated that the lack of experience is the number ONE reason that the trains are moving at a slower rate of speed. They say this so that when we complain they cover their ass by saying its a safety issue. From today's NYTimes: It had already been a difficult year for Metro-North, which has had a reputation as one of the country’s most reliable railroads. In September, a power failure in Mount Vernon, N.Y., upended service on the New Haven line, leading the authority to take the rare step of offering credits to affected riders. On May 17, two trains on the New Haven line collided during the Friday evening rush after one derailed near Fairfield, Conn. At least 70 people were injured. Less than two weeks later, a track foreman was struck and killed in West Haven, Conn. The safety board said in an “urgent safety recommendation” that a trainee rail traffic controller had opened a section of track without proper clearance. The recent episodes have occurred during a spate of departures that have left several positions either vacant or filled by less-experienced employees. Retirements of high-level employees have been common, officials said, because retirees can receive maximum pension payments after 30 years of service. “It’s been a bad year,” said William Henderson, the executive director of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the transportation authority. “You can’t get away from that.” As an aside, my usual train is the 7:18 am train which is scheduled to arrive at Grand Central at 8:31 am. That is a trip time of 1:13. I've been doing this same commute for almost 17 years and previous to the 'safety slowdown', the trip time was 1:08. I would take a 7:12 that would get me in at 8:20. This morning, the 7:18 arrived at 7:21 and didn't get into GCT until 8:40. That's 1:19 and almost 10 minutes late. I cannot remember the last time the 7:18 picked me up at 7:18 and honestly, I don't think its ever arrived at GCT at 8:31. Not my intention to hijack the thread with my commuter woes, just want to provide more evidence as to the continued poor stewardship of MetroNorth in many areas.

dgwphotography Dec 02 2013 08:35 AM Re: Train Check

I'm a New Haven Line commuter as well, and as Soup said, service over the last 2/3 of the year have been abysmal. I believe that Metro-North's line about inexperience at key positions is a load of crap. They are trying to shift blame from their cuts in maintenance. When the NTSB releases their report, we'll know for sure, but the word from the conductors on our train is that the brakes went out in that train, which is a mechanical, not experience, failure.

Edgy MD Dec 02 2013 08:44 AM Re: Train Check

That's some loose-assed lips on your train. Whoo-boy! Somebody's pissed about the personnel being thrown under the train.

TransMonk Dec 02 2013 08:53 AM Re: Train Check

My dad was born in Ossining and I still have extended family in the area. Many times when I visit the area, we set up camp there and then take the train into the city for a few days. I have taken that line back and forth to the city several times, though certainly not often.

d'Kong76 Dec 02 2013 08:57 AM Re: Train Check

There wa$ a guy from NT$B on new$ before that $aid this could take 7-10 days of inten$e inve$tigation. After that, he $aid that it may be up to a year before they relea$e a conclu$ion.

dgwphotography Dec 02 2013 12:50 PM Re: Train Check

Kong76 wrote: There wa$ a guy from NT$B on new$ before that $aid this could take 7-10 days of inten$e inve$tigation. After that, he $aid that it may be up to a year before they relea$e a conclu$ion. Sounds like the same timetable as the collision in Bridgeport. NTSB still hasn't released the results of that investigation.

dgwphotography Dec 02 2013 12:52 PM Re: Train Check

Edgy MD wrote: That's some loose-assed lips on your train. Whoo-boy! Somebody's pissed about the personnel being thrown under the train. It's not just that, but when you take the same train every day, you get to know the people around you, especially the conductors.

d'Kong76 Dec 02 2013 02:13 PM Re: Train Check

Train was traveling 82 mph going into a 30 mph curve according to preliminary black box info -- News12

Edgy MD Dec 02 2013 02:19 PM Re: Train Check

That sounds more like a brake failure than driver error to my conclusion-jumping mind.

seawolf17 Dec 02 2013 02:31 PM Re: Train Check

Kong76 wrote: Train was traveling 82 mph going into a 30 mph curve according to preliminary black box info -- News12 Crikey.

HahnSolo Dec 02 2013 02:49 PM Re: Train Check

82 on a straightaway would be frightening, never mind on a curve.

dgwphotography Dec 02 2013 03:45 PM Re: Train Check

Edgy MD wrote: That sounds more like a brake failure than driver error to my conclusion-jumping mind. I'm not buying the whole user error over equipment malfunction argument. Going 80 is one hell of a user error. Especially since these trains have high speed warning systems...

dgwphotography Dec 03 2013 03:32 PM Re: Train Check

From the NTSB: https://twitter.com/NTSB Based on train data, there is no indication that the brakes were not functioning properly on the Metro North train. Metro North performed several brake tests on accident train prior to the beginning of the trip; no anomalies. Data for each station stop along the route showed no degradation of the brakes or anomalies. Also today, investigators began a more detailed inspection of each of the rail cars and the locomotive. Crew members are being interviewed today, including the engineer, who is being interviewed right now. Results from crew alcohol breath tests were all negative. The results of drug tests are still pending. Engineer worked for Metro North for 15 years and has been an engineer for 10 of those years. This was his regularly scheduled route, making 2 round trip runs each day, with his typical day lasting appx. 9 hours. The engineer had been running this route, full time since November 17. This was the second day of his five day work week. Positive Train Control is proven technology that can prevent train to train collisions, overspeed derailments, and incursions in work zones.