2 dead in Iowa train crash

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

By Kevin Cole

Two crew members died Sunday morning when two Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway trains collided near Red Oak, Iowa

BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas said both the trains were headed east when the accident happened about 7 a.m. about six miles west of Red Oak. The names of the accidents victims are being withheld pending notification of family.

Melonas said the victims were the engineer and conductor of a train hauling 130 cars of coal from Wyoming to Chicago. They were the only personnel onboard.

The other train was hauling maintenance equipment from Bridgeport, Neb., to Creston, Iowa, and was struck from behind by the coal train.

Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20110417/NEWS01/110419727#2-dead-in-iowa-train-crash

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Photo: http://www.omaha.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=OW&Date=20110417&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=110419727&Ref=AR&maxw=600&maxh=400
Two trains collided west of Red Oak near McPherson, Iowa, Sunday morning.

SUBMITTED PHOTO BY MARGO LEIBERT

[murielm99]

1. This is f-ing stupid.

My dad is a retired railroader. My brother is getting ready to retire in October. Trains need more personnel.

At one time, they had a fireman. Of course firemen don't load coal any more, or set anything on fire. But another pair of eyes and another brain is good for safety. Even if they have another crew of two sitting there to take over, let's say, four hours on and four hours off, for a maximum twelve hour shift, that would be better. Sometimes they have to stop the train and get out to inspect the equipment, no matter what the weather. Three guys, or four guys, are better than two.

I worked for the railroad one summer. The train crews protect their rights. They have to. I can remember crews stopping after a sixteen hour shift and saying they needed to be relieved. It was in their contract. I can remember management trying to coax guys into working just a little longer. No way would they do it.

The focus is on air traffic controllers right now. But They are not the only ones who need help.

My prayers go out to the families of the engineer and the conductor.

[liberal N proud]

3. Like every business cut staff to the bone

This is the problem with air traffic controllers and is being seen in every business that requires labor.

Doing more with less people is the way companies are squeezing more profit.

[Brickbat]

7. Totally agreed. Mr. Brickbat is a locomotive engineer and the old-timers have amazing stories of

three-, four- and five-person crews on a line that never had a head-on collision -- until last year.

And when there were crews larger than 2, the railroads STILL pulled in money hand over fist.

[XemaSab]

2. How sad

Why are there not better systems to let other trains know what the traffic is?

Why should the engineer and conductor have to keep a visual lookout for other trains on the tracks when they're going 60 mph around sharp curves and hauling 130 heavy cars?

[murielm99]

5. There are.

There are dispatchers who control things. There are track sensors, automatic train control and centralized train control. The dispatchers communicate with the train crews. HOWEVER...

Each division of each railroad used to have a crew of dispatchers. Often, they were acquainted personally with the train crews. Now, all trains are dispatched from once location. It is somewhere in Nebraska or Kansas or someplace. I forget which.

[iamtechus]

4. Yikes! Only a conductor and an engineer.

I was shocked to read that those trains had only an engineer and a conductor. That means that there is only one guy who can drive the thing. What happens if something happens to the driver?

Airliners must have at least two pilots, never less. If I was a conductor on a coal train I'd be scared to go to work.

[Fuddnik]

6. When I started on the railroad in '71, the law required 5 crewmembers

Then they went after the fireman, who in reality is a asst. engineer. Then they started going after the brakemen and the caboose. Most places are down to 2 crew members now. And some places to a single engineer.

One railroad (at least) wanted to go with all remote controlled trains.

[Populist_Prole]

10. In some cases only one.

Some commuter lines just have only the engineer in the cab.

[Brickbat]

11. Some freights will do it as well when shoving around the yard.

[valerief]

8. Don't oilmen want everything shipped by truck or air for more $$$ in their wallets? nt

[Brickbat]

9. BNSF? So very sad.