Train Buffs Derailed
Nothing like showcasing the city's amazing public transit system and then having it fall of the rails:
A four-car chartered train carrying about 40 train buffs derailed Sunday morning on the elevated CTA tracks near State and 14th Street in the South Loop, though no one was injured.
A Green Line train carrying 60 to 70 passengers was trapped behind the chartered train, the CTA said.
All but two of those aboard the trains walked down a nearby walkway to the nearest train station.
Rumor has it the train started with 40 train buffs aboard, but following the derailment, rescue personnel counted 127 people on board. Funny how that happens, even 30 feet in the air.
Labels: we got nothing
posted by SCC at 12:01 AM
17 Comments:
Too bad it wasn't filled with our corrupt self serving politicians. If it went over the side and burst into flames it would be no loss. If Detroit had a CTA (DTA) they would be right at home.
No investigation? I suppose it was like an act of God and was unpreventable huh? You know like putting a chartered train in service that doesn't normally belong there it would be impossible and silly to think that someone had a track switch in the wrong position at the wrong time or something right?
And $100 dollars for this privilege to ride the CTA? I can't even.....
One guy, who was taken down by CFD, said 'you know the sound and feel of a train moving forward, but when it starts moving sideways, you know something's wrong'. A master of understatement.
The I'LL. Railway museam is something to see.
Many buildings full of historic rolling stock.
On the weekends in the summer they have 3-4 vintage trains that you can ride.
A great day trip for kids.
No injuries reported. Imagine if that train was filled with the "usual" green and orange line customers.
It would have been a call for the same number of bambalances similar to the marathon of a few years ago.
This was so funny! I couldn't stop laughing my ass off!
Train buffs on CTA train that derailed! BBBWWWAAA!!!
Just to think this city thinks it could handle the Olympics or NATO summits!
NOT!
Da Pelon
A few NATO Anarchist were seen running from the scene laughing their asses off!
Hey all, I'm one of the railfans who was on the charter, the CPD and CFD did a great job yesterday with us, very professional, very polite. Thanks again! It sure wasn't how we planned our day!
This was a charter sponsored by the Illinois Railway Museum as a fund-raiser for train buffs and that was the second time a CTA train had derailed at that particular switch. It would seem that they would fix that problem. Good thing the draw-bars held and the cars didn't fall off the structure.
I was at the scene and was pleasantly surprised by the attitude of the passengers. They were on the platform taking pictures with CPD, CFD, and CTA employees after walking approx. 2 blocks on the narrow walkways/ties. They were having a blast and no one was complaining of bullshit injuries. The one thing we noticed was that the number of people who gave us their I.D.s were the same number of people that were supposed to be on the trains. We said if this happenned 4 miles farther south, there would have been 3 times as many people claiming to be passengers. And that's another thing. EVERYBODY had I.D.s. I'm surprised this doesn't happen more often with the shape this shithole is in.
Railfans would never sue the CTA. It'd be like priests suing the Church. I've done tours with these guys,and they're a hoot.
Also, there were only 40 of us, I have no idea who the reporter was for the Sun Times reporting 127, and two cars full of normal non charter passengers.
4 car train, 40 people, all railfans (most of us work for the RR).
As I said, big kudos to the CPD and CFD for their professionalism. A bit of overkill though, must have been 5 fire trucks, 6 ambulances, lots of news and cop cars. Made it seem much bigger than it was. Pretty sweet to be able to walk up top on the L though, something most people can;t say they've done.
"The I'LL. Railway museam is something to see. Many buildings full of historic rolling stock. On the weekends in the summer they have 3-4 vintage trains that you can ride. A great day trip for kids."
--4/30/2012 03:54:00 AM
IRM are good people, tremendous amount of volunteer work to restore historic RR equipment.
This was a minor derailment that could have happened to any train, any time -- especially those brand-new Canadian-made cars with the defective Chinese-made wheel bearing parts.
Nice try, good Emanuel diversion. Point the finger at one small group on a one-time trip, ignore an everyday multi-million dollar City of Chicago f__kup.
Typical.
Don't s__t me. I have seen a CTA train laying on its side in the street at Lake and Wabash. Could have landed right on top of me.
People died. Pothead motorman took it over the high jump on that sharp curve. Who could forget a name like Derail Easter?
Seriously.
I'm a big rail fan myself. It is people that are riding this chartered train that support public transit especially rail transit. Our cities are choking with auto & truck traffic. It is cheaper to built new rail lines especially in existing but unused right-of-way. The problem is the incompetency of some idiots who run the system. They should be run out of town on a rail.
The charter was not *sponsored* by IRM. It was sponsored by a private individual; the group was composed of IRM volunteers.
A minor correction...this was not an Illinois Railway Museum-sponsored charter. The trip was organized by a private individual who is an IRM member, and the passengers were working volunteers from the Museum.
Just wanted to set the record straight.
"I was at the scene and was pleasantly surprised by the attitude of the passengers. They were on the platform taking pictures with CPD, CFD, and CTA employees after walking approx. 2 blocks on the narrow walkways/ties. They were having a blast and no one was complaining of bullshit injuries. The one thing we noticed was that the number of people who gave us their I.D.s were the same number of people that were supposed to be on the trains. We said if this happenned 4 miles farther south, there would have been 3 times as many people claiming to be passengers. And that's another thing. EVERYBODY had I.D.s."
--4/30/2012 08:42:00 AM
Yeah, RR fans are generally smart and knowledgeable; know safety rules, how things work, what belongs, what doesn't look right, and often have phone numbers jotted down for RR police, dispatchers, etc. and will call in any problems they see. "Eyes and ears" when they are around.
I have called in a fire going under an occupied commuter car on the BNSF myself once, trespassers endangering themselves, and problems with a crossing gate repair. Signal maintainer came out right away, "I thank you and my boss thanks you."
In everyone's interest to keep everything safely on the tracks and moving smoothly...
On old ICRR electric commuter operation (now METRA), I remember a minor collision at the Van Buren Street station years ago; relative fender-bender but there were some injuries. There WAS a problem that time with people trying to get on the trains after the hit.
Glad everyone came out OK in this one. Thanks to all who came to help.
...and a better spring excursion next year!
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