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Botany

(70,498 posts)
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 12:50 PM Jan 2018

Train carrying members of Congress hits a truck

Source: CNN

A train carrying members of Congress to their legislative retreat in West Virginia, hit a truck Wednesday, multiple sources told CNN.

One GOP source was unsure how many members of Congress were on the train or how many people were injured, but said there were injuries.

That source said members "hit the deck."

Republican members of Congress were on their way for a retreat at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia starting
Wednesday and ending Friday. Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to speak to members later Wednesday and President Donald Trump is scheduled to address the event tomorrow.


Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/31/politics/congress-train-accident/index.html

119 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Train carrying members of Congress hits a truck (Original Post) Botany Jan 2018 OP
Hopefully the train with the Republicans suddenly gets locked and air removed. Weed Man Jan 2018 #1
Bless your heart. AzureCrest Jan 2018 #21
If I were a thinking republican, I might suspect TheDebbieDee Jan 2018 #40
No chance of that! (The thinking repuglican.) erronis Jan 2018 #50
There is no thinking for 99.9% of them and the only thing they cstanleytech Jan 2018 #59
Is there such a thing? Iahotdog Jan 2018 #108
Random meaningless event... yallerdawg Jan 2018 #2
This message was self-deleted by its author Cha Jan 2018 #97
Mahalo, Cha! yallerdawg Jan 2018 #102
While I hope they're all okay... MountCleaners Jan 2018 #111
Hope they are all okay, efhmc Jan 2018 #3
This message was self-deleted by its author Botany Jan 2018 #5
+1. (n/t) FreepFryer Jan 2018 #6
+1 LeftishBrit Jan 2018 #112
"Trainwreck" DemoTex Jan 2018 #4
My thoughts, too. Laurian Jan 2018 #8
Poetic Justice, indeed. hexola Jan 2018 #10
For the truck driver too? B2G Jan 2018 #12
Seems little more than an inference on your part. LanternWaste Jan 2018 #105
Seems to have hit a trash truck. efhmc Jan 2018 #7
On the way to the hotel that house(d/s) the Congress' nuclear bunker, their train hit a truck. Hmmm. FreepFryer Jan 2018 #9
Early reports seem to indicate the truck was stuck on the tracks. B2G Jan 2018 #11
Hope all are ok, but call me Netflixed if it all doesnt sound a little too Breaking Bad :) FreepFryer Jan 2018 #29
Sounds like The Blacklist episode called The Kingmaker. displacedtexan Jan 2018 #110
Hope the truck driver is ok. Augiedog Jan 2018 #13
I hope the truck driver is OK IronLionZion Jan 2018 #14
He is dead oberliner Jan 2018 #15
Where did you see that? IronLionZion Jan 2018 #17
Local NBC station oberliner Jan 2018 #18
Here is a tweet from a WaPo reporter on the train BumRushDaShow Jan 2018 #23
The truck driver died and his passenger was critically injured per MSNBC Rhiannon12866 Jan 2018 #117
Conflicting reports... Runningdawg Jan 2018 #53
There are no conflicting reports oberliner Jan 2018 #60
Senator Jeff Flake reported from the scene that the driver survived. No Vested Interest Jan 2018 #74
One reported fatality oberliner Jan 2018 #16
Wait, West Virginia? forgotmylogin Jan 2018 #19
No, Virginia. NT mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2018 #45
Whoops! n/t forgotmylogin Jan 2018 #52
The train was headed to West Virginia. mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2018 #62
In 3...2...1 matt819 Jan 2018 #20
The truck driver was killed oberliner Jan 2018 #22
That's terrible news.. Kittycow Jan 2018 #30
Very much so oberliner Jan 2018 #42
Terrible for the engineer, too DeminPennswoods Jan 2018 #98
that's terrible renate Jan 2018 #24
thank you... dhill926 Jan 2018 #35
Hey, near Charlottesville. mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2018 #25
Same Here The River Jan 2018 #96
Waste collection is one of the most hazardous occupations there is. mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2018 #101
Wouldnt have happened if Congress had invested in high-speed rail service Squaredeal Jan 2018 #26
You're nuts. mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2018 #27
Thats why the train speed was only 70 mph, to give motorists time to stpp Squaredeal Jan 2018 #37
Trains don't go 70 mph through Crozet. Yonnie3 Jan 2018 #58
Agreed. That crossing is at the end of a particularly enjoyable section of road for chasing trains. mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2018 #67
This is LITERALLY how the GOP is destroying this country! Fluke a Snooker Jan 2018 #28
You're nuts, II. mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2018 #33
Alert? To what? Fluke a Snooker Jan 2018 #84
Obvious sarisataka Jan 2018 #38
Not sure what you mean. Fluke a Snooker Jan 2018 #85
Don't sweat it sarisataka Jan 2018 #93
Ha! Codeine Jan 2018 #86
Be my guest sarisataka Jan 2018 #94
Hey dude, john657 Jan 2018 #92
They hit a garbage truck. 47of74 Jan 2018 #31
the interesting thing about this story is this.. Javaman Jan 2018 #32
It was an Amtrak passenger extra. mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2018 #34
You mean the same Amtrak that the orange asshole cut funds to? Javaman Jan 2018 #51
It was a charter train DeminPennswoods Jan 2018 #99
Lots of new DUers with low post counts on this thread IronLionZion Jan 2018 #36
Yeah, really. mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2018 #39
Thanks for the welcome. john657 Jan 2018 #100
As long as you're not one of Putin's agents IronLionZion Jan 2018 #103
I just checked my wallet and I couldn't find a Putin fan club card, john657 Jan 2018 #104
This message was self-deleted by its author angrychair Jan 2018 #41
Uncalled for. Someone was killed. NT mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2018 #43
Unneeded Botany Jan 2018 #46
Ill delete my comment...but... angrychair Jan 2018 #61
You don't know the politics of the driver that was killed and or those of the 1st responders ... Botany Jan 2018 #69
Thanks. I don't like them (I mean the RW, not EMTs) either, but mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2018 #71
For the record angrychair Jan 2018 #75
Well, yeah, that they do. mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2018 #76
Do you know any Charlottesville Fifes Maggiemayhem Jan 2018 #77
No. I haven't lived there in decades, and even when I was there, I didn't know any. NT mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2018 #78
Some had their little children on the train. Little children. Queen of the Iceni Jan 2018 #47
Was lack of funding for safe crossroads a contributing factor? bucolic_frolic Jan 2018 #44
The tri-weekly Amtrak train the Cardinal operates over this line. mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2018 #49
This message was self-deleted by its author machoneman Jan 2018 #48
Classy. AzureCrest Jan 2018 #56
I hope the truck driver is ok nt elmac Jan 2018 #54
Details on the line from the C&O's October 25, 1962, employee's timetable: mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2018 #55
I hope the truck is okay. TeamPooka Jan 2018 #57
Driver is dead sarisataka Jan 2018 #65
Will Someone Tell the Reporters The River Jan 2018 #63
I shouted at them several times to no avail. n/t Yonnie3 Jan 2018 #66
I Know the Feeling The River Jan 2018 #73
People in Joliet know it well. 47of74 Jan 2018 #81
The longest in the United States at the time of its construction. mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2018 #68
The Metaphor.... it comes... n/t TygrBright Jan 2018 #64
Oh, I got the metaphor immediately upon hearing the news. bullwinkle428 Jan 2018 #119
what an apt metaphor for the republican party gopiscrap Jan 2018 #70
Obligatory link to Operation Lifesaver mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2018 #72
Train with trash, truck with trash, crash! lapfog_1 Jan 2018 #79
I am sad to see people injured TwistOneUp Jan 2018 #80
I would have written the article's headline differently: Gore1FL Jan 2018 #82
A garbage truck. Very apropos. n/t CousinIT Jan 2018 #83
How will the Evangelicals explain this? rickford66 Jan 2018 #87
Video is up mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2018 #88
Per MSNBC, the driver of the truck was killed Rhiannon12866 Jan 2018 #89
Great comment from another online forum! SpankMe Jan 2018 #90
Too bad about the fatality.... Toorich Jan 2018 #91
Rs better start getting right with God DeminPennswoods Jan 2018 #95
And right outside of Charlottesville... Rhiannon12866 Jan 2018 #113
Maybe drones should be flown ahead of trains to detect obstructions. rickford66 Jan 2018 #106
Twitter feeds mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2018 #107
I always knew they were a train wreck waiting to happen. WhiteTara Jan 2018 #109
He was pronounced dead at the scene and his passenger critically injured Rhiannon12866 Jan 2018 #114
Damn! That is so sad. nt WhiteTara Jan 2018 #115
From what I saw on MSNBC, it appears the crossing signal was working Rhiannon12866 Jan 2018 #116
The bot brigade is flooding Facebook with conspiracies as usual Blue_Tires Jan 2018 #118
 

Weed Man

(304 posts)
1. Hopefully the train with the Republicans suddenly gets locked and air removed.
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 12:54 PM
Jan 2018

That's how Republicans should be living. Oxygen-free and locked up.


 

TheDebbieDee

(11,119 posts)
40. If I were a thinking republican, I might suspect
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 01:34 PM
Jan 2018

That this could have been a botched assassination attempt!

Response to yallerdawg (Reply #2)

yallerdawg

(16,104 posts)
102. Mahalo, Cha!
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 04:00 PM
Jan 2018

When they are about to "lock him up," then we'll know the wheel turned full circle!

MountCleaners

(1,148 posts)
111. While I hope they're all okay...
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 04:50 PM
Jan 2018

...where are the fundies when something like this happens? Will Pat Robertson say it's "God's will"?

Response to efhmc (Reply #3)

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
105. Seems little more than an inference on your part.
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 04:05 PM
Jan 2018

Seems little more than an inference on your part.

Nice or not...

FreepFryer

(7,077 posts)
9. On the way to the hotel that house(d/s) the Congress' nuclear bunker, their train hit a truck. Hmmm.
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 12:58 PM
Jan 2018

Was it the other way around? Did the train hit the truck or did the truck hit the train?

Lordy, I hope there are tapes

 

B2G

(9,766 posts)
11. Early reports seem to indicate the truck was stuck on the tracks.
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 01:00 PM
Jan 2018

Seems the most severe injury is the truck driver.

BumRushDaShow

(128,874 posts)
23. Here is a tweet from a WaPo reporter on the train
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 01:14 PM
Jan 2018


TEXT
Ed O'Keefe

@edatpost

BREAKING: Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) tells me 3 passengers aboard the hit truck. 1 is dead. 2 injured. He and other lawmakers helped carry one of the injured truck passengers to an ambulance with local medical personnel.
12:02 PM - Jan 31, 2018

Rhiannon12866

(205,237 posts)
117. The truck driver died and his passenger was critically injured per MSNBC
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 05:38 PM
Jan 2018

Two on the train had head injuries because they fell at the time of the crash, many on the train were standing. Per MSNBC, one congressman and a staffer.

Runningdawg

(4,516 posts)
53. Conflicting reports...
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 01:56 PM
Jan 2018

CNN - White House press secretary Sarah Sanders confirmed in a statement that there was at least one fatality from the collision, though it was unclear who that was.
[link:https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/31/politics/congress-train-accident/index.html|
A White House official confirmed the incident to CBS. They said they were not aware of any fatalities.
[link:https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/912655/train-crash-lorry-republicans-garbage-truck-charlottesville-virginia-republican-GOD|

No Vested Interest

(5,166 posts)
74. Senator Jeff Flake reported from the scene that the driver survived.
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 02:39 PM
Jan 2018

It was a person in the back of the truck who died.

forgotmylogin

(7,527 posts)
19. Wait, West Virginia?
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 01:08 PM
Jan 2018

People were wondering about that huge delivery of opioid painkillers there. Coincidence?

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,410 posts)
62. The train was headed to West Virginia.
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 02:07 PM
Jan 2018

Until June 20, 1963, it was all one big happy family.

Ummm, maybe "happy" isn't the right word.

Thanks for writing.

matt819

(10,749 posts)
20. In 3...2...1
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 01:11 PM
Jan 2018

Democrats behind this.

George Soros funded it.

Robert Mueller was driving the truck.

Ex-NSA hackers hacked the train.

Deep State NSA hackers hacked the train.

Day after the SOTU a coincidence? I don't think so.

Dems already have candidates lined up for special elections because all GOP congresspeople were supposed to die in the wreck.

Black helicopters were seen in the area. Operations was carried out by rogue special forces under Hillary's command. She and the shadow Democratic government watched the entire incident from Hillary's bunker in Chappaqua.

The truck driver was a known Democratic operative.

The truck driver can't be found and is under the protection of Barack Obama at his home in Washington.

The truck driver was a Salvadoran immigrant and member of MS-13.

Republican congresspeople were replaced by Democratic pod people.

The train was hijacked by Mexican immigrants.



Kittycow

(2,396 posts)
30. That's terrible news..
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 01:20 PM
Jan 2018

Hubby's a trucker so I take these to heart a little bit more. Sigh... condolences to the family, although that sounds so empty anymore.

DeminPennswoods

(15,278 posts)
98. Terrible for the engineer, too
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 03:44 PM
Jan 2018

There is nothing for the train to go except brake hard and slam into whatever's on the tracks ahead. My dad worked for the rr and told me these accidents are very, very hard on the engineers. Some never recover.

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,410 posts)
25. Hey, near Charlottesville.
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 01:15 PM
Jan 2018
Eastern Railroad Discussion > Republican retreat train incident

Edited: I used to live a few miles from Crozet. Whichever crossing that is, I've been over it and/or to it many times.

More editing:

Train carrying Republican legislators involved in collision in Crozet

The Daily Progress staff reports 27 min ago

A passenger train carrying Republican legislators was involved in a collision outside of Charlottesville Wednesday morning. .... The crash occurred at 11:20 a.m. in Crozet, according to an Amtrak official. The official also said there are no reported injuries to passengers or crew members.

The train reportedly hit a garbage truck stopped at the Marymart Farm Road crossing in Crozet. The engine came partially off the tracks.

An official from the Federal Railroad Administration said, “We are still gathering information and have no additional information to share at this time.”

This story is developing and will be updated with more information.

Send news tips to news@dailyprogress.com, call (434) 978-7264, tweet us @DailyProgress or send us a Facebook message here.

I know that crossing really well.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Marymart+Farm+Rd,+Crozet,+VA+22932/@38.0769449,-78.7202863,765m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89b37e5d0cfd869f:0xd7be7779d5a0229!8m2!3d38.0758296!4d-78.7231759

The River

(2,615 posts)
96. Same Here
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 03:42 PM
Jan 2018

The crossing has lights but no swing down barrier arms.

The Trump Truck driver walked to the ambulance. The 2 guys who ride
on the back and actually empty trash into the hopper were
the ones injured/killed.

Squaredeal

(397 posts)
26. Wouldnt have happened if Congress had invested in high-speed rail service
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 01:16 PM
Jan 2018

All passenger tracks would be elevated, like in modern countries. They’d rather award tax breaks to their cronies than care about the future of our country.

Squaredeal

(397 posts)
37. Thats why the train speed was only 70 mph, to give motorists time to stpp
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 01:30 PM
Jan 2018

If it was elevated, as in Europe and Japan, passenger trains could go 200mph. The driver either ignored the stop warning or got stuck on the tracks, endangering everyone on the train, his passengers and himself.

Yonnie3

(17,432 posts)
58. Trains don't go 70 mph through Crozet.
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 02:00 PM
Jan 2018

My estimate, having actually been there is 25 to 35 for any train I have seen.

If you want to promote rapid transit, have at it, just don't make stuff up.

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,410 posts)
67. Agreed. That crossing is at the end of a particularly enjoyable section of road for chasing trains.
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 02:23 PM
Jan 2018

Last edited Wed Mar 7, 2018, 11:38 AM - Edit history (5)

On sunny Friday afternoons, I've have my scanner on to listen as trains were made up in the Charlottesville yard. Once the time approached for them to leave, I'd get in my car and head out for 250 West. I could go either of two ways. One was to take JPA south past New Cabell Hall, turn north and go up Emmet Street. Generally, traffic was bad, so I'd cut through the Lewis Mountain neighborhood, turn north on Alderman Road, and make the left on 250 there. Another was to go north on JPA, make the left turn onto University Avenue and go under the C&O bridge and then up past the corner. Either way, I'd wait for the trains out by Farmington. I could hear the trains calling signals as they left Charlottesville, especially that westbound one at Rugby Road, so I knew where they were. I could photograph them several times between Farmington and the big bridge at Mechums River where 250 goes under the bridge and 240 heads up into Crozet. I'd go past the station and wait on the other side of the intersection with 810 for the trains to cross the bridge over 810, the main north-south street through Crozet. The road west from there on the north side of the tracks is Railroad Avenue, or Route 788. The trains are right beside you, and since they are now beginning their climb, they are bogged down. The sound is just great. You can drive right next to them until you approach that crossing, the one where the collision occurred.

You don't EVER try to beat the train to the crossing. You always wait for it. Once it's gone by, you always have time to get past it and photograph it as it approaches Jarman's Gap. Then you can run around it again and see it at Greenwood. And you can drive around him again and set up for him at Afton. After that, he takes off.

 

Fluke a Snooker

(404 posts)
28. This is LITERALLY how the GOP is destroying this country!
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 01:18 PM
Jan 2018

A train carrying a bunch of white supremacist fat cats, living high on the hog off the wage theft of mostly non-white workers, hits a truck driven by a poor victim of republican policies, killing him. This is as EXACT a metaphor one can find. The GOP MUST be destroyed, and ALL its voters must be held to their white supremacist shame!! EVERY ONE OF THEM.

sarisataka

(18,608 posts)
38. Obvious
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 01:32 PM
Jan 2018

small burrowing insectivorous mammal with dark velvety fur, a long muzzle, and very small eyes is obvious

Javaman

(62,521 posts)
32. the interesting thing about this story is this..
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 01:22 PM
Jan 2018

I have looked at a few sources and not one mentions or shows the kind of train it was.

only the wreckage of the truck.

I can only assume it was some sort of "special" train that can't be seen by us mere mortals.

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,410 posts)
34. It was an Amtrak passenger extra.
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 01:26 PM
Jan 2018

Last edited Wed Mar 7, 2018, 11:41 AM - Edit history (3)

For decades, both the Republicans and Democrats have taken retreats in January or thereabouts. They often go to the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. The Greenbrier is in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. White Sulphur Springs is on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, now called CSX. It is on an Amtrak route, that of the Cardinal.

The easiest way for members of Congress to get from Washington to White Sulphur Springs is to take a train. Amtrak engineers are qualified on the route, as they run it all the time.

The passenger extra will not be found in the timetable. Train enthusiasts, aka railfans, will be tracking it online and photographing it along the way. See, for example: Passenger Trains > Congressional Greenbrier train hits truck.

Anybody can see the train; just go stand by the tracks. There's nothing secret about it, but since tickets aren't sold to ride it, Amtrak doesn't publicize it.

Added: the line on which the collision occurred is now operated by the Buckingham Branch Railroad.

Javaman

(62,521 posts)
51. You mean the same Amtrak that the orange asshole cut funds to?
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 01:56 PM
Jan 2018

PRESIDENT TRUMP SOUGHT TO CUT FUNDING TO AMTRAK BEFORE DEADLY DERAILMENT

http://www.newsweek.com/amtrak-derailment-trump-infrastructure-washington-751664

the man is a fucking plague.

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,410 posts)
39. Yeah, really.
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 01:33 PM
Jan 2018

This happened on one of my favorite lines for chasing trains. I've lost count of the number of miles I put on my cars pursuing and photographing trains on their way west out of Charlottesville. I've got a four-channel crystal scanner with the right frequency in it - 160.23 MHz - ready to go.

I should note that the line is now technically run by the Buckingham Branch Railroad. When I lived in the outskirts of Crozet and in Charlottesville, the line was the Mountain Subdivision of the Clifton Forge Division of the C&O.

Charlottesville is 600 feet above sea level. The line has to go up and over the Blue Ridge Mountains, at Blue Ridge Tunnel just west of Afton, to get into the Shenandoah Valley. The first city the line goes through in the Shenandoah Valley is Waynesboro, which is 1,305 feet above sea level.



Blue Ridge Tunnel, east portal, old and new

Freight trains headed west from Charlottesville can keep up a pretty good pace until they hit Crozet. That's when the climbing begins.

CSX Piedmont, Washington, North Mountain subdivisions

In December 2004, Buckingham Branch entered into a 20-year lease with CSX Transportation to operate 200 miles (322 km) of track in Virginia on the latter's Piedmont, Washington, North Mountain subdivisions. Each were originally parts of the Virginia Central Railroad's line, and extend from Richmond through Doswell, Orange to Charlottesville, Virginia. From there, the line extends through the Blue Ridge Tunnel complex to Waynesboro, and Staunton to reconnect with CSX lines at Clifton Forge. The line which was the backbone of Collis Huntington's newly completed Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad in the 1870s was supplanted by a lower-grade line along the path of the former James River and Kanawha Canal in the 1880s.

Unlike the original branch in Buckingham County, the new section is leased for a 20-year period. CSX retains overhead trackage rights on the trackage leased to the Buckingham Branch, and continues its same pattern of running empty westbound coal and grain trains over the route, sometimes as many as 8 a day. Buckingham Branch train crews must contend with this fact by continually dodging the CSX westbounds, as well as the Amtrak trains, by going into the various sidings along the lines. Amtrak's Cardinal continues to use the Buckingham Branch line between Orange and Clifton Forge on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, the only instance where an Amtrak train utilizes a Class III railway line.

This new section of the expanded Buckingham Branch was dispatched by CSX from Jacksonville, Florida for the first two years; now it is dispatched by the BB out of Staunton.
 

john657

(1,058 posts)
100. Thanks for the welcome.
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 03:55 PM
Jan 2018

I mainly joined to let DU'ers know that long time member, GGJohn, had passed away and I got interested in this site, although I don't post very much.

 

john657

(1,058 posts)
104. I just checked my wallet and I couldn't find a Putin fan club card,
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 04:04 PM
Jan 2018

so, no, I'm no agent of Putin's.

Response to Botany (Original post)

Botany

(70,498 posts)
46. Unneeded
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 01:47 PM
Jan 2018

Those 1st responders put their butts on the line the minute they roll.

BTW I am a very proud uncle of a firefighter/EMT. I will guarantee you
that when she goes out on a run politics is not on her mind.

angrychair

(8,696 posts)
61. Ill delete my comment...but...
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 02:02 PM
Jan 2018

It’s all good and well to say nice things when they are calling immigrants “murderers and rapists and gang killers” and denying women basic human rights and insinuating that transgender people are child molesters.
Not to mention trashing clean air and water regulations and allowing hundreds to die in PR without electricity, food or water because of the color of their skin.
Not to mention the current undermining of the very foundation of our republic by kissing the ass of that racist sexual predator they call a president.

I can’t stand republicans, I don’t wish harm on anybody but you are going to get little sympathy for any misfortune as they would have none for me.

Post has been deleted.

Botany

(70,498 posts)
69. You don't know the politics of the driver that was killed and or those of the 1st responders ...
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 02:27 PM
Jan 2018

..... or should that matter. Train and or vehicle accidents happen with either Ds or Rs
in power.

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,410 posts)
71. Thanks. I don't like them (I mean the RW, not EMTs) either, but
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 02:32 PM
Jan 2018

Last edited Wed Jan 31, 2018, 03:59 PM - Edit history (1)

when the Western Albermarle Rescue Squad rolled up, they didn't ask how the occupants of the truck had voted in the last election.

I didn't watch the SOTU, as I knew I couldn't take one more minute of ... him. When he came on this morning, I shut off the TV set.

Contributions and voting are the answer.

I'll try to calm down a little too. These are stressful times.

Thank you.

angrychair

(8,696 posts)
75. For the record
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 02:41 PM
Jan 2018

I’m a first responder (EMT) and I work on wildland wildfire response. I don’t ask about politics at all because it doesn’t matter and I am obviously not taking issue with the driver or passengers or train personnel but congressional republicans are vile, racist, xenophobic hate mongers.
Again, I don’t wish harm on anybody but these people test that position daily.

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,410 posts)
76. Well, yeah, that they do.
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 02:45 PM
Jan 2018

I can't listen to him. Seriously. I reach for the remote as soon as I hear him.

I live in Virginia. Our electoral votes went for HRC. We elected a D for all three statewide positions (governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney governor) about three months ago. We captured a whole bunch of seats in the House of Delegates.

This is what gets results.

That reminds, me, I need to support that fellow up in one of the three other commonwealths. Conor Lamb; that's the one.

Again, thank you, and I do understand.

bucolic_frolic

(43,134 posts)
44. Was lack of funding for safe crossroads a contributing factor?
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 01:43 PM
Jan 2018

or was this a private line unassociated with public transit or Amtrak?

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,410 posts)
49. The tri-weekly Amtrak train the Cardinal operates over this line.
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 01:50 PM
Jan 2018

It's a public crossing. I've been over it many times.

I've got a link to a map in another post. Here it is:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Marymart+Farm+Rd,+Crozet,+VA+22932/@38.0769449,-78.7202863,765m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89b37e5d0cfd869f:0xd7be7779d5a0229!8m2!3d38.0758296!4d-78.7231759

Westbound trains are climbing at this point. Even short trains have to slow for the curve.

Response to Botany (Original post)

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,410 posts)
55. Details on the line from the C&O's October 25, 1962, employee's timetable:
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 01:57 PM
Jan 2018

Crozet is 13.4 miles on the railroad west of Charlottesville.

Clifton Forge Division







The River

(2,615 posts)
63. Will Someone Tell the Reporters
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 02:09 PM
Jan 2018

that the name of the town where the crash occurred is pronounced Croz-A. It was named after a French civil engineer, Claudius Crozet, who designed a nearby train tunnel. The t is silent.

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,410 posts)
68. The longest in the United States at the time of its construction.
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 02:27 PM
Jan 2018

This article is about the original tunnel.

Blue Ridge Tunnel

Overview
Line: Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) Mountain Subdivision – previously C&O Railroad and Blue Ridge Railroad
Location: Augusta / Nelson counties, near Rockfish Gap, Virginia
Coordinates: 38°02′18″N 78°51′45″WCoordinates: 38°02′18″N 78°51′45″W (Northwest Portal of new tunnel)
Status: Abandoned, replaced by new tunnel currently in operation

Operation
Opened: 1858
Closed: 1944
Owner: Blue Ridge Railroad (1856–1870)
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad (1870–1878)
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (1878–1944)

Technical
Line length 4,273 ft (1,302 m)
Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Grade ​70 ft⁄mi (1.326%)

The Blue Ridge Tunnel (also known as the Crozet Tunnel) is a historic railroad tunnel built during the construction of the Blue Ridge Railroad in the 1850s. The tunnel was the westernmost and longest of four tunnels engineered by Claudius Crozet to cross the Blue Ridge Mountains at Rockfish Gap in central Virginia. At 4,237 feet (1,291 m) in length, the tunnel was the longest tunnel in the United States at the time of its completion in 1858. The tunnel was used by the Virginia Central Railroad from its opening to 1868, when the line was reorganized as the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad (renamed Chesapeake and Ohio Railway in 1878). The Chesapeake and Ohio routed trains through the tunnel until it was abandoned and replaced by a new tunnel in 1944. The new tunnel was named the "Blue Ridge Tunnel" as well, although the original tunnel still remains abandoned nearby. The old Blue Ridge Tunnel has since been named a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,410 posts)
72. Obligatory link to Operation Lifesaver
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 02:34 PM
Jan 2018
https://twitter.com/olinational

Operation Lifesaver
@olinational
Our mission is to end collisions, injuries and deaths at grade crossings and on rail property. Follows, RTs and Favorites do not imply endorsement.

TwistOneUp

(1,020 posts)
80. I am sad to see people injured
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 02:54 PM
Jan 2018

I want the GOP thugs brought to justice, but not this way. This is sad. Let's hope the body count does not increase and those that were injured have a speedy recovery.

Then try the thugs for treason, the way it's s'posed to be done.

rickford66

(5,523 posts)
87. How will the Evangelicals explain this?
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 03:20 PM
Jan 2018

There are no accidents, right? A miracle only one dead. Remember they blame hurricanes and earthquakes on gays.

Rhiannon12866

(205,237 posts)
89. Per MSNBC, the driver of the truck was killed
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 03:23 PM
Jan 2018

And his passenger critically injured. A congressman and a staffer have head injuries. Many on the train were standing at the time of the crash and fell when it hit the truck. They are now being transported the final two hours to W VA by bus. The nearest city to the crash is Charlottesville VA.

SpankMe

(2,957 posts)
90. Great comment from another online forum!
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 03:24 PM
Jan 2018
"Did everybody see that crash? it was huge. Probably the biggest one ever, that I can tell you. And just one fatality! How great was that? Everywhere I go, I get letters - many, many letters, this I can tell you - of people saying how great our response was (FACT!) Can you just imagine how bad that crash would have been if Lyin' Hillary, who nobody said I could beat but did, she and the crooked Democrats ran probably the worst campaign that's ever been run, that I can tell you, if she was in charge? Nobody knows more about crashes than I do. No one knows more about broken infrastructure than I do, this I can tell you."

Not from me. From username rickythepenguin on fark.com. Funny!

Toorich

(391 posts)
91. Too bad about the fatality....
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 03:29 PM
Jan 2018

but it's not every day that you see a train loaded with trash ram into a trash truck.

DeminPennswoods

(15,278 posts)
95. Rs better start getting right with God
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 03:39 PM
Jan 2018

They all claim to be believers. I think He's been sending them signs to repent and mend their evil ways. First there was the shooting at their baseball practice, He sent two 500 or 1000 year floods to Texas within a few days, now this. How many more signs do they need?

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,410 posts)
107. Twitter feeds
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 04:17 PM
Jan 2018
PHOTO FROM THE ACCIDENT SCENE courtesy of @SenMikeLee:



Nunes leaves train. Says accident was jarring. Tells us he's going by car to GOP retreat.



Seven coaches lined up ready to receive lawmakers family and staff.



He was also asked about the memo - not clear if he answered. Someone also yelled "Nunes, you suck!"



We are moving. Back to Charlottesville where we will transfer to buses. Please keep praying for the truck driver’s loved ones and other’s injured.


WhiteTara

(29,704 posts)
109. I always knew they were a train wreck waiting to happen.
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 04:29 PM
Jan 2018

I hope the truck driver is okay. And I must say, when the Republicons wreck they make one hell of a mess...garbage everywhere.

Rhiannon12866

(205,237 posts)
116. From what I saw on MSNBC, it appears the crossing signal was working
Wed Jan 31, 2018, 05:35 PM
Jan 2018

One congressman and a staffer have head injuries because many on the train were standing at the time of the crash. But the truck didn't stand a chance against a train.

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