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aceofspadeshq at gee mail.com CBD: cbd.aoshq at gee mail.com Buck: buck.throckmorton at protonmail.com joe mannix: mannix2024 at proton.me MisHum: petmorons at gee mail.com J.J. Sefton: sefton at cutjibnewsletter.com | Amtrak Train Was Moving In Excess of 100 mph on a Curve With a Speed Limit of 50An Amtrak train involved in a fatal crash here appears to have been traveling at more than 100 miles an hour as it entered a sharp curve where it derailed Tuesday night, killing at least seven people, according to two people with knowledge of the investigation. The speed limit in that section of track drops to 50 miles per hour, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. Investigators are focusing on the possibility that excessive speed was a factor in the derailment, one of these people said.MSNBC was pretty sure this was all due to Republican Spending 9. Taxpayers Subsidize Passengers Who Can Afford to Make Amtrak Profitable The welfare queens riding in Amtrak luxury at the benefit of the American taxpayers are mostly not the poor. Nevertheless, you and I and future generations are subsidizing every ticket purchased by those who can afford to pay the fare required to make Amtrak profitable. Many of the same media elite already using Tuesday night's tragedy to call for more government spending on Amtrak, also are guilty of welfare queening on Amtrak between their Emerald Cities of Washington DC and Manhattan. This is from a 1997 Cato Institute Study. There is nothing, though, that indicates anything’s changed much. In fact, with the labor force so diminished and Washington DC attracting more and more of the connected and wealthy, it would not surprise me to learn that even fewer of the poor benefit from Amtrak:And there's this:Amtrak's typical riders are not low-income Americans. The poor are less likely to travel by Amtrak than by most other travel options. Only 13 percent of Amtrak passengers have incomes below $20,000. The average Amtrak rider has a higher household income than the average taxpayer. In fact, the clientele for Amtrak Metroliner service between Washington and New York consists largely of Wall Street traders, K Street lobbyists and other affluent business travelers. These folks aren't poor.
Comments(Jump to bottom of comments)1
So the Democrats, who are bashing Reps this morning for wanting to cut the Amtrack budget, want to increase budget on something that not only is a bottomless money pit, but also kills people because it employs morons (sorry 'government morons' that's a redundancy right there)? Nice....
Posted by: WZer at May 13, 2015 01:58 PM (uingK) 2
Why on Earth would the Engineer do that?
Posted by: hello it's Me Donna... again at May 13, 2015 01:58 PM (Bn6aD) 3
So the engineer is hiding behind an attorney. Guilty.
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at May 13, 2015 01:59 PM (V8fhv) 4
He was probably texting.
Posted by: Norman at May 13, 2015 02:00 PM (CYS6Q) 5
I vote capital punishment for the engineer.
Posted by: Drill_Thrawl at May 13, 2015 02:00 PM (JOG+K) 6
Whoa - that's bad!
Someone gonna go to jail over this? Posted by: Lizzy at May 13, 2015 02:01 PM (2TN4k) 7
All you had to do was listen to the survivors description to know what happened. Hopefully for America no white cop was involved with driving the train.
Posted by: Super Creepy Eric Hoteham at May 13, 2015 02:01 PM (oDCMR) 8
If you'd doubled his salary he would've slowed down.
Posted by: The Great White Snark at May 13, 2015 02:01 PM (XUKZU) 9
I'm giving her all she can handle, Captain.
Posted by: Mr. Scott at May 13, 2015 02:01 PM (o68RC) 10
BooooOOoooOOOooOOOooSSHHHHH!!11!!1
Posted by: SJW at May 13, 2015 02:01 PM (NUCTk) 11
Ph'namtrakglui mglwmypenis'nafh Cthulhu R'lysuckiteh wgah'youmustnagl fhtandswallowgn. Posted by: Moo Moo & MUMR's Love Child at May 13, 2015 02:01 PM (SFpiC) 12
Posted by: The Great White Snark at May 13, 2015 02:01 PM (XUKZU)
LOL. Sadly, some progressives probably believe this. Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 13, 2015 02:02 PM (1sJza) 13
JooOOoooOOOoooOOOOoooOoZZZ!!11!!!11
Posted by: Durka Durka Mohammed Jihad at May 13, 2015 02:02 PM (NUCTk) 14
This is in so many ways the story of Hillary's! Campaign.
Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at May 13, 2015 02:02 PM (5buP8) 15
We need to invest in more train engineer training!!!
Posted by: Dems at May 13, 2015 02:02 PM (2TN4k) Posted by: The Great White Snark at May 13, 2015 02:02 PM (XUKZU) Posted by: Garrett at May 13, 2015 02:02 PM (S41VY) 18
100 mph is really fast for a train these days on the best of track, I would be surprised if it was that fast.
Anything can happen, though. Posted by: Jinx the Cat at May 13, 2015 02:02 PM (l3vZN) Posted by: fixerupper at May 13, 2015 02:02 PM (8XRCm) 20
Side note: I like how Nolte made "welfare queen" into a verb.
Posted by: Dems at May 13, 2015 02:03 PM (2TN4k) Posted by: Bevel Lemelisk at May 13, 2015 02:03 PM (BX5wZ) 22
Big government lies, people die.
Posted by: flounder at May 13, 2015 02:03 PM (ecDRv) 23
DooOOOooooooOOOoooOOOOoodzzzzzz!!11!1!!
Posted by: Womyn's Studies Professor at May 13, 2015 02:03 PM (NUCTk) 24
Why on Earth would the Engineer do that?
- He may have had a little chemical enhancement. Convert to Islam? Posted by: wrg500 at May 13, 2015 02:03 PM (sWgE+) 25
Casey Jones you better watch your speed.
Posted by: Zombie Jerry Garcia at May 13, 2015 02:03 PM (o68RC) 26
Oh, I'm sure they'll be telling us tomorrow that the poor engineer was just not paid enough and was under such pressure and blah blah blah.
Posted by: Lauren at May 13, 2015 02:03 PM (MYCIw) Posted by: hello it's Me Donna... again at May 13, 2015 02:03 PM (Bn6aD) 28
Ban inertia!
Posted by: HR braucht ein Bier at May 13, 2015 02:03 PM (ZKzrr) 29
nvestigators are focusing on the possibility that excessive speed was a factor in the derailment, one of these people said.
You. Don't. Say. If that is true and there wasn't some mechanical failure that made it impossible to slow down, then I say some people need to be looking at criminal charges. Posted by: alexthechick - Hair rays activate! at May 13, 2015 02:03 PM (mf5HN) 30
Cocaine is a hell of a drug
Posted by: Casey Jones at May 13, 2015 02:04 PM (QcJ+D) 31
Awful. But not surprising I guess.
>>Only 13 percent of Amtrak passengers have incomes below $20,000. These are probably students. Although my roommate used to take the bus to NYC from dc... I only took the train once when I lived up there because I was in Philly and my ride had to stay an extra day. Also my office paid for it. Posted by: Lea at May 13, 2015 02:04 PM (3qhe0) 32
Why aren't trains automated at this point? Why would a train even be able to go 100 mph around a curve? How hard could this possibly be?
Posted by: Naes at May 13, 2015 02:05 PM (YhayY) 33
"Why on Earth would the Engineer do that?"
Serious answer? Because he probably always does it. I wasn't really joking when I said this could be laid at the feet of the left's desire for "high speed rail". Posted by: Lauren at May 13, 2015 02:05 PM (MYCIw) 34
Why on Earth would the Engineer do that?
- He may have had a little chemical enhancement. -- Castration? Posted by: Feminist SJW at May 13, 2015 02:05 PM (ecDRv) 35
Do you know who the hell I am?
Posted by: Train engineer Kneivel at May 13, 2015 02:05 PM (ZWRoJ) 36
Any truth to rumor that engineer was watching Fox news on his phone while increasing speed to LS ( ludicrous speed ) ??
Posted by: Yip at May 13, 2015 02:05 PM (84SRe) 37
Crusades.
Posted by: Dan at May 13, 2015 02:05 PM (COpZ4) 38
Not the first time -and sadly, it won't be the last-that someone was going at an excessive speed. Last time drugs may have been involved.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 13, 2015 02:05 PM (1sJza) 39
An Amtrak train involved in a fatal crash here appears to have been traveling at more than 100 miles an hour as it entered a sharp curve where it derailed Tuesday night, killing at least seven people, according to two people with knowledge of the investigation.
$100 says the Union made it part of their contract that Amtrak couldn't put GPS monitors on the vehicles. Serious question to anyone who knows: How hard would it be to remotely/automatically throttle down a locomotive that was doing, say, >15% above the speed limit on a stretch of track? Posted by: bonhomme at May 13, 2015 02:05 PM (jhqr1) Posted by: Super Creepy Eric Hoteham at May 13, 2015 02:06 PM (oDCMR) 41
I thought High Speed Rail was the answer?
Posted by: Boss Moss at May 13, 2015 02:06 PM (o68RC) Posted by: Blackfoot at May 13, 2015 02:06 PM (8XRCm) 43
Going too fast. OK then, we'll see no more comparisons to USPS.
Posted by: Stringer Davis at May 13, 2015 02:06 PM (xq1UY) 44
Amtrak Train Was Moving In Excess of 100 mph on a Curve With a Speed Limit of 50
Bullshit! It was terrorism! I read it on the internet. Posted by: rickl at May 13, 2015 02:06 PM (zoehZ) 45
Amtrak, come for the slow travel times, stay for the mass casualties.
Posted by: Dr Spank at May 13, 2015 02:06 PM (i55o+) 46
Some of the cars on that train are shovel-ready.
Posted by: Furious George at May 13, 2015 02:06 PM (UlJ3l) 47
As I said earlier, this is the only AMTRAK corridor that is profitable. All those government subnsidies go to AMTRAK service for routes like San Diego to Dallas which have just about no passengers. All they do is subsidize union feather bedding which is a well known fact since Fox outed this years ago.
All subsidies to AMTRAK should be reduced . . . to zero. As far the train going over 100 mph what do you want to bet this was the cause before the investigation even started. Remember, this is a government owned train so blame the egineer. Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at May 13, 2015 02:06 PM (wlDny) 48
Hmmm.
100 mph into a curve rated at 50 mph. Either the engineer was asleep/passed out or he was going to do a GermanWings with a train. Neither is good to think about. Posted by: Mikey NTH - The Outrage Outlet Buy A Malediction, Get an Imaginary Insult Half Off! at May 13, 2015 02:06 PM (hLRSq) 49
Well isn't that just like a man, always trying to go faster than the other guy. Cars, boats, planes, steam boats, railroad engines. ice boats, sail boats. speed speed speed. It's like an addiction.
Unless he just fell asleep. Could be either. Posted by: Barlow Dondabiter at May 13, 2015 02:07 PM (6vZvS) 50
Actually, we feel the answer is MORE GOVERNMENT SURVEILLANCE.
Oh, and STOP PUTTING TAPE OVER YOUR LAPTOP CAMERAS, you jerks!! How can we see your 'happy ending' when you watch Da P0rn??? Sickoes....... Posted by: The NSA at May 13, 2015 02:07 PM (sCHw2) 51
48
Hmmm. 100 mph into a curve rated at 50 mph. Either the engineer was asleep/passed out or he was going to do a GermanWings with a train. Neither is good to think about. Except He took others out not Himself... Posted by: hello it's Me Donna... again at May 13, 2015 02:07 PM (Bn6aD) 52
The unionized American public sector are unable to even operate LOW speed rail safely and competently, as witnessed to by a long string of completely avoidable lethal trainwrecks due to operator error.
That very same unionized American public sector are now vocally demanding the construction at public expense of hundreds of billions of dollars worth of HIGH speed rail lines. No way a brilliant plan like this can fail, no sirree. Posted by: torquewrench at May 13, 2015 02:07 PM (noWW6) 53
Silver Train is coming....
Posted by: Boss Moss at May 13, 2015 02:08 PM (o68RC) 54
Why are we bringing up the engineer's mum? Seems rude, so soon after Mother's Day.
Posted by: Turd Ferguson at May 13, 2015 02:08 PM (VAsIq) 55
I think I see what the problem was.
Posted by: Ricardo Kill at May 13, 2015 02:08 PM (LA7Cm) 56
It would be interesting to look at where the train was compared to where it was "supposed" to be based on the schedule.
Posted by: Lauren at May 13, 2015 02:09 PM (MYCIw) 57
What this country needs is a computer controlled train engine. We have robots for everything else. It would be easier to automate a train engine than it would be to design a self driving automobile.
Sounds like some research grants need to be authorized by congress. Posted by: Barlow Dondabiter at May 13, 2015 02:09 PM (6vZvS) Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at May 13, 2015 02:09 PM (oVJmc) 59
If you need me, I'll be in the sleeper car with Olga.
Posted by: Engineer Schittino at May 13, 2015 02:09 PM (S41VY) 60
He had to be drug/alcohol tested after the crash...It will come out...
Posted by: hello it's Me Donna... again at May 13, 2015 02:09 PM (Bn6aD) 61
I mentioned in the morning thread, part of my morning commute is alongside an Amtrak route. The tracks run immediately to the side of the roadway and those babies haul some serious ass.
Always did make me a bit nervous. If one derailed along there, it would land right in the road during morning rush hour. Yikes. Posted by: Citizen X at May 13, 2015 02:09 PM (7ObY1) 62
Looks like this guy's high might have put the speed in the rail.
Posted by: River Guide at May 13, 2015 02:09 PM (RJMhd) 63
Subsidies to keep Old Charlie away from the handle.
Posted by: Bevel Lemelisk at May 13, 2015 02:09 PM (BX5wZ) 64
To which we should also add another observation: The party of government never wishes to discuss the poor performance of government employees; they always change the subject, and even begin suggesting that the way to make incompetent government workers do the jobs they are paid to do is to just Pay Them More Taxpayer Dollars.
I heard this A LOT in the '90s, phrased something like "when government workers earn as much as their private sector counterparts then we'll have competence in government." Billions of dollars later, 100 mph in a 50 mph zone, but don't look at his compensation if you want to keep your blood pressure steady. Posted by: joncelli at May 13, 2015 02:09 PM (RD7QR) 65
Can we stop calling Union workers "skilled labor" anytime soon?
As if non-Union people can't get experience and training. IE skills. Posted by: bonhomme at May 13, 2015 02:09 PM (jhqr1) Posted by: POTUS 0Bola at May 13, 2015 02:09 PM (sCHw2) Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at May 13, 2015 02:09 PM (fWAjv) 68
It was supposed to time travel at 88 mph.
Posted by: Doc Brown at May 13, 2015 02:10 PM (oVJmc) 69
Like I said earlier, I'd bet the first thing the guy did was hand his phone to the union lawyer and you can bet they'll fight like hell to keep from releasing evidence of what he was doing at the time.
He was 'distracted'. Posted by: The Devoceleraptor (sometimes JEM) at May 13, 2015 02:10 PM (o+SC1) 70
Why does any train have the ability to surpass the top speed of the line it operates on? Stuff insurance companies ask about they're policy holders. I guess Amtrak is insured by Congress, so no effective adult oversight.
Posted by: Super Creepy Eric Hoteham at May 13, 2015 02:10 PM (oDCMR) 71
That must have been some good $hit. Amtrak Grade.
Posted by: Boss Moss at May 13, 2015 02:10 PM (o68RC) 72
She was coming down that grade
Doing 90 miles an hour When the whistle broke into a scream He was found in the cab With his hand on the throttle He was scalded to death by the steam. Posted by: Stringer Davis at May 13, 2015 02:10 PM (xq1UY) 73
If it wasn't for the fucking Tea Party, the engineer wouldn't have been drunk and sleeping.
Sarah Palin would speed up all the trains if you left it to her. Posted by: jwest at May 13, 2015 02:10 PM (9ZZd+) 74
Train, train, take me on out of this town
Train, train, Lord, take me on out of this town Well, that woman I'm in love with, Lord, she's Memphis bound Posted by: Citizen X at May 13, 2015 02:11 PM (7ObY1) 75
I was on that train. We were definitely going fast. I remember looking out the window and only seeing blurred lines.
Posted by: Robin Thicke at May 13, 2015 02:11 PM (VAsIq) 76
Someone told me that the Koch Brothers stole the speedomter from the train.
Posted by: Harry Reid at May 13, 2015 02:11 PM (OD2ni) 77
Now, this is something you NEVER see us do, amirite? And we're LOADED with beer, too.......
Posted by: Coors Light Trains at May 13, 2015 02:12 PM (sCHw2) 78
Amtrak bringing High Speed Trains to Philly and associated sexually transmitted diseases as well.
Posted by: Super Creepy Eric Hoteham at May 13, 2015 02:12 PM (oDCMR) 79
"I thought High Speed Rail was the answer?"
To derailing three times as fast as today's trains, yes. Posted by: Ricardo Kill at May 13, 2015 02:12 PM (LA7Cm) 80
Wasn't me.
Posted by: Gomez Addams, Train Dispatcher at May 13, 2015 02:12 PM (oVJmc) 81
Dealin' card games with the old men in the club car
Penny a point ain't no one keepin' score Pass the paper bag that holds the bottle Feel the wheels rumblin' 'neath the floor Posted by: Bandersnatch at May 13, 2015 02:12 PM (JtwS4) 82
Transcript from the voice recorder:
Engineer: You ever been in a cockpit before? Joey: No sir, I've never been on a train before. Engineer: You ever seen a grown man naked? Posted by: wrg500 at May 13, 2015 02:13 PM (sWgE+) 83
Force on an object traveling around a curve is proportional to the square of the velocity. Going twice as fast means four times the force. Physics can be a real bitch sometimes.
Posted by: ira allen at May 13, 2015 02:13 PM (kUmUV) 84
>>What this country needs is a computer controlled train engine.
Think they do this for subways. Can't remember the circumstances, but there was a spell when I was commuting on the DC Metro and they had temporarily stopped using the automated driving feature and were being driven by engineers - and the stops were so much worse (jerky, brake-pumping as they attempted to stop in the proper place). Posted by: Dems at May 13, 2015 02:13 PM (2TN4k) 85
Excuse me sir, do you know how fast you were going?
Posted by: Amtrak Cop at May 13, 2015 02:13 PM (6GBAx) 86
Why does any train have the ability to surpass the top speed of the line it operates on?
------ With more money, this problem can be fixed. Posted by: SH at May 13, 2015 02:13 PM (gmeXX) Posted by: Garrett at May 13, 2015 02:13 PM (S41VY) 88
Was the engineer in Spain on his phone or just speeding? I can't remember anymore.
Posted by: Lauren at May 13, 2015 02:14 PM (MYCIw) Posted by: Mikey NTH - The Outrage Outlet Buy A Malediction, Get an Imaginary Insult Half Off! at May 13, 2015 02:14 PM (hLRSq) 90
It would be interesting to look at where the train was compared to where it was "supposed" to be based on the schedule.
Posted by: Lauren at May 13, 2015 02:09 PM (MYCIw) According to the schedule, it should have been in NYC at 5 pm. But...Amtrak. Posted by: DangerGirl at May 13, 2015 02:14 PM (oZe0I) 91
>>Force on an object traveling around a curve is proportional to the square of the velocity. Going twice as fast means four times the force. Physics can be a real bitch sometimes.
Well, we ought to repeal the law of physics, then!! Posted by: Lizzy at May 13, 2015 02:14 PM (2TN4k) 92
In the midnight, hear me cryin' out her name.
In the midnight, hear me cryin' out her name. I'm standin' on the railroad, waitin' for the graveyard train. On the highway, thirty people turned to stone. On the highway, thirty people turned to stone. Oh, take me to the station, 'cause I'm number thirty-one. (Best CCR song that nobody remembers anymore) Posted by: Citizen X at May 13, 2015 02:14 PM (7ObY1) 93
I believe the Metro North carsh was also caused by excessive spped around a bend.
Posted by: Benji Carver at May 13, 2015 02:14 PM (OD2ni) Posted by: SH at May 13, 2015 02:14 PM (gmeXX) 95
What's the odd's the engineer used to work for Germanwings? Also, if it was excessive speed, why did passengers describe the train as 1st leaning left and then sharply right before derailing? Just wondering cuz it seems counter-intuitive.
Posted by: THE Big, Old, Fat guy at May 13, 2015 02:14 PM (rVGaB) 96
Regarding the massive subsidies that taxpayers "give to Amtrak", let's not forget that a significant chunk of the subsidies go to the railroads for maintenance and upgrades in order for Amtrak service to remain kinda-sorta timely.
So let's assume a politically connected owner of a privately held large Class I railroad--let's call him Warren--who wants a free upgrade of allowable speeds for his freight trains. Warren waits, defers some maintenance and upgrades. Amtrak threatens to reroute or discontinue service over the line. Alarmed Dims and GOPes then fund the necessary upgrades, Warren's rail freight business is the main beneficiary, and Warren doesn't even say thank you to us. But he thinks you don't pay enough in income taxes. Posted by: Furious George at May 13, 2015 02:15 PM (UlJ3l) 97
Train and train! What is Train?!
Posted by: Kara of Amtrak at May 13, 2015 02:15 PM (oVJmc) Posted by: fixerupper at May 13, 2015 02:15 PM (8XRCm) Posted by: DaveA at May 13, 2015 02:15 PM (DL2i+) 100
How? I understood that the train had stopped in Philly. How in Hell did he manage to get the beast up to 100 mph that quickly?
Posted by: Blue Hen at May 13, 2015 02:15 PM (Spluw) 101
What would Newton say? WWNS
Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it. Sometimes turning the wheel or curving the track can't defeat that first law. Posted by: SE Pa Moron at May 13, 2015 02:15 PM (xQX/f) 102
As I said earlier, this is the only AMTRAK corridor that is profitable.
----- I seriously doubt it is profitable. Posted by: SH at May 13, 2015 02:15 PM (gmeXX) 103
Force on an object traveling around a curve is proportional to the
square of the velocity. Going twice as fast means four times the force. Which is extremely hurtful for gays. Now let's all draw in our journals about how that makes us feel. Posted by: Social Justice Physics at May 13, 2015 02:15 PM (ZKzrr) 104
"I heard this A LOT in the '90s, phrased something like 'when government workers earn as much as their private sector counterparts then we'll have competence in government.'"
There is something along those lines which I have heard repeatedly here in Commiefornia when the subject of the platinum-plated pay and pension packages of the public sector is brought up. Which is for public sector workers to get butthurt and defensive and blurt out, "But we don't have STOCK OPTIONS the way that those of you in the PRIVATE SECTOR do. None of us are going to GET RICH FROM AN IPO." I'm sure it will come as a considerable surprise to a whole lot of you who are holding down private sector jobs that you've got a big old options package that'll pay off soon. Just waiting to vest, baby, waiting to vest. Posted by: torquewrench at May 13, 2015 02:15 PM (noWW6) Posted by: Turd Ferguson at May 13, 2015 02:16 PM (VAsIq) 106
" Why does any train have the ability to surpass the top speed of the line it operates on? "
The telemetry and control interface has only been available for about 35 years. Do you think this shit happens overnight? Posted by: jwest at May 13, 2015 02:16 PM (9ZZd+) 107
" It would be interesting to look at where the train was compared to where it was "supposed" to be based on the schedule. "
I would have to believe that they are GPS tagged and monitored and that someone could have seen they were wildly exceeding the limit for that stretch. But, who knows. Posted by: Ricardo Kill at May 13, 2015 02:16 PM (LA7Cm) 108
How? I understood that the train had stopped in Philly. How in Hell did he manage to get the beast up to 100 mph that quickly?
JATOs. Posted by: Kara of Amtrak at May 13, 2015 02:16 PM (oVJmc) 109
I would say the system failed the engineer.
Posted by: Capt. Francesco Schettino at May 13, 2015 02:16 PM (8ZskC) 110
Oh F off.
House GOP blocks hike in Amtrak budget hours after crash Republicans on a powerful House panel on Wednesday blocked a bid by Democrats to boost Amtrak's budget by more than $1 billion, including $556 million targeted for the railroad's Northeast corridor, site of a deadly crash. Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at May 13, 2015 02:16 PM (fWAjv) 111
If this report is true, it could be a simple case of arrogance - Engineer trying to make up time as Amtrak trains are notorious for being late. The arrogance of thinking that you can defy physics and put everyone's life in danger with the ultimate end of people dying and injured.
Posted by: Cheri at May 13, 2015 02:17 PM (ZFPMM) 112
Pardon me Roy
Is that the cat that chewed your new shoes? Posted by: Bigby's Cellphone Finger at May 13, 2015 02:17 PM (b3gbk) 113
Take her to Ludicrous Speed.
Posted by: Garrett at May 13, 2015 02:17 PM (S41VY) 114
"... the way to make incompetent government workers do the jobs they are paid to do is to just Pay Them More Taxpayer Dollars."
Worked with Jay Cutler (or at least it will work, someday). Posted by: FireHorse at May 13, 2015 02:17 PM (64tBw) Posted by: Citizen X at May 13, 2015 02:17 PM (7ObY1) 116
Sometimes turning the wheel or curving the track can't defeat that first law. Well...you know....the train wants what it wants....... Posted by: eleven at May 13, 2015 02:17 PM (IPzoI) 117
Bets on whether this guy even gets fired? Guy should not be eligible to run something as minimal as the roller coaster ride at the local amusement park after this, but watch him get promoted! No one gets fired anymore it seems like. It is the Obama way!
Posted by: LizLem, servant of the cross (deal with it ISIS) at May 13, 2015 02:17 PM (yRwC8) 118
lol, funny Bigby
Posted by: Moderate Salami at May 13, 2015 02:18 PM (/Ho8c) 119
Wasn't there a train derailment in France or Spain where it was speeding through a curve and it turned out the asshole conductor was texting?
Bastard was probably playing Clash of Clans or setting a meetup with Tindr or Grindr. Posted by: nnptcgrad at May 13, 2015 02:18 PM (iF4ab) 120
House GOP blocks hike in Amtrak budget hours after crash
----- That actually surprises me. But kudos to them if true. Posted by: SH at May 13, 2015 02:18 PM (gmeXX) 121
Punch it, Chewie.
Posted by: Han Solo at May 13, 2015 02:18 PM (o68RC) 122
"why did passengers describe the train as 1st leaning left and then sharply right before derailing? "
I read something that explained how high speed rail cars shift their center of gravity by 'leaning' toward the apex of the turn. The suspension on the inside of the curve lowers that side of the car, and the car leans inward. Don't know if Amtrak does that. Posted by: Barlow Dondabiter at May 13, 2015 02:19 PM (6vZvS) Posted by: Turd Ferguson at May 13, 2015 02:19 PM (VAsIq) 124
Sleeping, Drunk/High or Jihaidiot?
Posted by: Minnfidel at May 13, 2015 02:19 PM (6GBAx) Posted by: Garrett at May 13, 2015 02:19 PM (S41VY) 126
Physics can be a real bitch sometimes.
Posted by: ira allen Physics, thy name is Hillary. Posted by: Turd Ferguson at May 13, 2015 02:16 PM (VAsIq) Physics can be a real Hillary sometimes? Harf got in the Urban Dictionary, why not Cankles. Posted by: LizLem, servant of the cross (deal with it ISIS) at May 13, 2015 02:19 PM (yRwC8) 127
"including $556 million targeted for the railroad's Northeast corridor, site of a deadly crash. "
Oh, is that money going to get Mr. Leadfoot to slow down? Posted by: Lauren at May 13, 2015 02:19 PM (MYCIw) 128
How? I understood that the train had stopped in Philly. How in Hell did he manage to get the beast up to 100 mph that quickly?
Tracks? Where we're going, we don't need tracks. Posted by: Doc Brown at May 13, 2015 02:19 PM (8ZskC) 129
Take me to the station And put me on the train I have no expectations To pass. Through here. Again. Posted by: Bandersnatch at May 13, 2015 02:19 PM (JtwS4) 130
127 Bigger,brighter red flashing warning lights!
Posted by: steevy at May 13, 2015 02:20 PM (mGBKM) Posted by: Turd Ferguson at May 13, 2015 02:20 PM (VAsIq) 132
Looking at the derailment scene. All I see is rape.
Posted by: Soona at May 13, 2015 02:20 PM (/HX7u) 133
I hear-r-r the tain a coming. Its rollin round the bend. And I aint see........ HOLY SHIT!!!! LOOKOUT!!!!!!!! Posted by: fixerupper at May 13, 2015 02:20 PM (8XRCm) 134
104---you nailed it. Talking to public employee union members and teachers, you quickly learn that hey think everyone who is NOT a public employee union member pulls down seven-figures on Wall Street and has a gold plated pension and perks up the ass.
Posted by: Sinatra at May 13, 2015 02:20 PM (MF70y) 135
Average taxpayer subsidy to a New York-Los Angeles Amtrak rider exceeds $1,000. Plane ticket, same route - $300
Posted by: Comments at May 13, 2015 02:20 PM (TzeLs) Posted by: Bandersnatch at May 13, 2015 02:21 PM (JtwS4) 137
The black box will tell the tale.
Posted by: DangerGirl at May 13, 2015 02:21 PM (oZe0I) 138
Here's 2 from Los Lobos
https://www.youtube.com/ watch?feature=player_embedded& v=ZFMuuPN7Jdo https://www.youtube.com/ watch?feature=player_embedded& v=VFumTiXivis Posted by: DaveA at May 13, 2015 02:21 PM (DL2i+) 139
Remember when chew chew Charlie used good an plenty candy to make his train run. He should of stayed with the candy and not gotten hooked on speed.
Posted by: OTB at May 13, 2015 02:21 PM (ShdUd) Posted by: fixerupper at May 13, 2015 02:21 PM (8XRCm) 141
Long black train...
https://vimeo.com/48850538 Posted by: Lizzy at May 13, 2015 02:21 PM (2TN4k) Posted by: Bawney Fwank at May 13, 2015 02:21 PM (VAsIq) 143
Thanks Barlow. That sounds reasonable if Amtrak does do that.
On another note, I proposed we rename them Damntrak Posted by: THE Big, Old, Fat guy at May 13, 2015 02:21 PM (rVGaB) 144
Good thing I was there to heroically pull those people out of the horrible wreck in a (D)heroic manner.
Good thing you reporters were right here to record my heroic tale of my (D)heroics and heroism. Good thing. ... VOTE (D) !!! Posted by: Former Congressman Patrick Murphy at May 13, 2015 02:22 PM (NUCTk) 145
Casey Jones was a son of a bitch, Drove a steam engine through a forty foot ditch, Pissed on the whistle and shit on bell, And he went through Chicago like a bat out of hell. Casey Jones, mounted to his cabin, Casey Jones, had his pecker in his hand, Casey Jones, mounted to his cabin, "Bend over ladies, I'm a railroad man." Posted by: Grump928(c) at May 13, 2015 02:22 PM (evdj2) 146
I rode Amtrak once. Never again.
Posted by: DangerGirl at May 13, 2015 02:22 PM (oZe0I) 147
If the news is true, ya wanna bet they've been working up higher speeds through that curve? Once guy goes through at 55, the next guy tries 60. Somebody braggs about 85 when he was doing 50.
Next thing you know, some redneck says, "Here, hold my beer, and watch this." Posted by: Barlow Dondabiter at May 13, 2015 02:22 PM (6vZvS) 148
Amtrak is a train wreck.
Posted by: Boss Moss at May 13, 2015 02:22 PM (o68RC) Posted by: Garrett at May 13, 2015 02:22 PM (S41VY) Posted by: Turd Ferguson at May 13, 2015 02:22 PM (VAsIq) 151
See..the train veered to the Right and look what happened!!!!
Posted by: Avg. MSNBC host at May 13, 2015 02:23 PM (6GBAx) 152
I remember a math problem like this once.
Posted by: Roy at May 13, 2015 02:23 PM (VndSC) Posted by: eleven at May 13, 2015 02:23 PM (IPzoI) 154
Liberal trolls at WSJ trying to sell infrastructure. Don't blame the Engineer blame the Republicans.
The slap downs are historic. When will they learn? Posted by: Nip Sip at May 13, 2015 02:23 PM (0FSuD) 155
they always change the subject, and even begin suggesting that the way to make incompetent government workers do the jobs they are paid to do is to just Pay Them More Taxpayer Dollars.
As far as I'm concerned, the way to make incompetent government workers do the jobs they're pid to do is to copy the "dreaded private sector:" fire the asses of every lazy, prOn-surfing, cheeto-munching, deuce-dropping, twitter-posting, rotten attitude FedGov worker and keep on firing until the ones that are left get scared shitless and start actually working. Bust up every federal worker union. Fire them if they so much as make a lousy pot of coffee. If they had to live the way we do - day to day frightened that this might be the day they're escorted firmly out the door - we might actually get something done. Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at May 13, 2015 02:23 PM (zF6Iw) 156
Holy crap! Those poor people.
Posted by: Y-not on the phone at May 13, 2015 02:23 PM (jRdaV) 157
Is there normally only one person driving a train or maybe more crew? It seems that they would need 2 in case the lead Engineer got sick, whatever.
Posted by: Cheri at May 13, 2015 02:24 PM (ZFPMM) Posted by: Joe Biden at May 13, 2015 02:24 PM (hqZPQ) 159
Next thing you know, some redneck says, "Here, hold my beer, and watch this."
Posted by: Barlow Dondabiter at May 13, 2015 02:22 PM (6vZvS) Rednecks generally only kill themselves... Its Liberals who tend to kill others... Posted by: BB Wolf at May 13, 2015 02:24 PM (qh617) 160
Shut it down. Reduce spending to zero.
Posted by: Boss Moss at May 13, 2015 02:24 PM (o68RC) 161
He may have had a little chemical enhancement.
Posted by: The Great White Snark at May 13, 2015 02:02 PM (XUKZU) "Drivin' that traiiiin, high on cocaiiiine, Casey Jones, you'd better watch your speed." Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at May 13, 2015 02:24 PM (GQ0V+) 162
Choo Choo I'm Pullin The Train!
Posted by: Moo Moo & MUMR's Love Child at May 13, 2015 02:24 PM (SFpiC) 163
Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) said Congress 'failed' passengers who traveled on the Amtrak train Tuesday night.
Disgusting Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at May 13, 2015 02:24 PM (fWAjv) 164
If we had flooded that engineer's compartment with federal money he wouldn't have been speeding....
//Joey Choo Choo Plugz esq Posted by: Sven S Blade a.k.a. El Assassin@sven10077 at May 13, 2015 02:24 PM (/4AZU) 165
Trains are so penile.
Posted by: Soona at May 13, 2015 02:24 PM (/HX7u) 166
keep on firing until the ones that are left get scared shitless and start actually working.
Posted by: EPA guy in charge of at May 13, 2015 02:24 PM (NUCTk) 167
Why is it a train crashes and the outcry for more gov't spending increases, meanwhile obamas stupid CAFE standards kill thousands yearly and not a fucking peep?
Posted by: Arson Wells at May 13, 2015 02:24 PM (UnJ7w) 168
I'll never get those horrible images out of my mind.
Posted by: Brian Williams at May 13, 2015 02:25 PM (8ZskC) 169
32 Why aren't trains automated at this point? Why would a train even be able to go 100 mph around a curve? How hard could this possibly be?
Posted by: Naes at May 13, 2015 02:05 PM (YhayY) Ahem. Posted by: Teamsters' Union at May 13, 2015 02:25 PM (oKE6c) 170
Maybe the engineer was trying to make the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs
Posted by: wrg500 at May 13, 2015 02:25 PM (sWgE+) 171
" Is there normally only one person driving a train or maybe more crew? "
I don't know about Amwreck but on that Alaska RR show they have two and sometimes three in the cab. Posted by: Ricardo Kill at May 13, 2015 02:25 PM (LA7Cm) 172
2
Why on Earth would the Engineer do that? Posted by:t May 13, 2015 01:58 PM (Bn6aD) Ask the guy in NY state that fell asleep and ran his train off the tracks. This one, take a bet, is no doubt a union member and an AA hire that was on his cell phone or watching pron. ARREST HIM NOW! Posted by: Nip Sip at May 13, 2015 02:26 PM (0FSuD) 173
Being tossed around like a rag doll, believing the end was near, almost made me shit myself, but I knew there were lives to be saved so I jumped into action. Big Time.
---- Brian Williams on His Amtrak Experience Posted by: Dr Spank at May 13, 2015 02:26 PM (i55o+) 174
70 Why does any train have the ability to surpass the top speed of the line it operates on?
Speed limits vary along a route. Some sections may be 100mph limit. This curve was 50mph. Posted by: despair at May 13, 2015 02:27 PM (J6suc) 175
158 Wait 'til the engineer's drug test results come out...
High...On Speed... Rail Posted by: Joe Biden at May 13, 2015 02:24 PM (hqZPQ) FIFY. Posted by: Jay Guevara at May 13, 2015 02:27 PM (oKE6c) 176
Next thing you know, some redneck says, "Here, hold my beer, and watch this."
--------------------------------------------------- Did away with TV years ago. However "hold my beer and watch this" would make a kick ass reality show! Posted by: OTB at May 13, 2015 02:27 PM (ShdUd) 177
Ask the guy in NY state that fell asleep and ran his train off the tracks.
I thought they had to stand on a dead-man switch or the train would stop. Posted by: Grump928(c) at May 13, 2015 02:27 PM (evdj2) 178
170 Maybe the engineer was trying to make the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs
I was just watching that last night with my Aspergerish daughter. She pointed out the misuse of parsec. Posted by: NSA Commenter CRM114 at May 13, 2015 02:27 PM (hqZPQ) 179
Speed limits are just guidelines really.
Posted by: Boss Moss at May 13, 2015 02:27 PM (o68RC) 180
Am I the only one who thinks he might have been trying to make up the or something? I bet this happens all the time.
Posted by: Lea at May 13, 2015 02:28 PM (3qhe0) 181
keep on firing until the ones that are left get scared shitless and start actually working.
OK OK I'm working already. Posted by: EPA guy in charge of property seizure at May 13, 2015 02:28 PM (NUCTk) 182
This one, take a bet, is no doubt a union member and an AA hire that was on his cell phone or watching pron.
Evidence? The MSM, the dog that isn't barking. Posted by: Jay Guevara at May 13, 2015 02:28 PM (oKE6c) 183
When the government is involved in everything, then the answer to anything is 'more money'.
And since we as a society have been programmed to believe that the government SHOULD be involved in everything, we expect them to have the answers and therefore we believe them when they tell us the answer is 'more money'. In the next election, we will elect the person who promised to have government do the most. We should be electing the person who promises to have government do the least. Unfortunately, that person hasn't got a chance in hell of ever being elected. Bottom line: burn it down, scatter the stones, salt the earth. Posted by: LoneStarHeeb at May 13, 2015 02:28 PM (BZAd3) 184
The slap downs are historic. When will they learn?
Posted by: Nip Sip They went to a new and improved college--they're incapable of learning. Posted by: Turd Ferguson at May 13, 2015 02:28 PM (VAsIq) 185
I agree that it seems obvious that there would have already been an electronic speed limiter that prevents the engineer from speeding. But that's govt for ya. Of course this will now occur to govt types, who will then claim it will take $25 Billion to install these $100 updates. Posted by: Guy Mohawk at May 13, 2015 02:28 PM (ODxAs) 186
This one, take a bet, is no doubt a union member and an AA hire that was on his cell phone or watching pron. Of course. Because it's always about the racism. Posted by: Bandersnatch at May 13, 2015 02:28 PM (JtwS4) 187
I've been on Amtrak between NY and the Carolinas a couple of times. When running late one night, we were almost flying (I'd say 80 mph) between Wash DC and Baltimore. OK on a clear straight track, but the engineer better know where that next curve is.
Posted by: mallfly at May 13, 2015 02:28 PM (qSIlh) 188
Is there normally only one person driving a train or maybe more crew? It seems that they would need 2 in case the lead Engineer got sick, whatever.
Posted by: Cheri at May 13, 2015 02:24 PM (ZFPMM) ------------------------------------------ There is what they call a "dead man's button" that must be pushed every 15-30 seconds or the locomotive and braking systems will bring the train to a stop. The "dead man's button" is obviously not the problem here, unless it was somehow disabled. Posted by: Soona at May 13, 2015 02:28 PM (/HX7u) 189
Ow, My Balls has really picked up in the second season.
Posted by: eleven at May 13, 2015 02:29 PM (IPzoI) 190
I prefer to not drop below 100 in that part of the city, too.
Posted by: Chupacabras at May 13, 2015 02:29 PM (W2YA6) Posted by: Nip Sip at May 13, 2015 02:29 PM (0FSuD) 192
NTSB announces male engineer drug free and pregnant. Begins investigation into toilet facilities onboard train.
Posted by: SE Pa Moron at May 13, 2015 02:29 PM (xQX/f) 193
--- Brian Williams on His Amtrak Experience
Posted by: Dr Spank at May 13, 2015 02:26 PM (i55o+) Hell, Brian Williams would probably say the track was broken and he laid across the rails a la Superman and saved thousands more letting the train speed over him, lol. Posted by: Arson Wells at May 13, 2015 02:29 PM (UnJ7w) 194
In a society of lesbians such things would not happen. Men are the filth that result in these tragedies.
Posted by: Bruce Jenner at May 13, 2015 02:29 PM (3F6F8) 195
I don't know about Amwreck but on that Alaska RR show they have two and sometimes three in the cab.
Posted by: Ricardo Kill at May 13, 2015 02:25 PM (LA7Cm) I usually have one and sometimes two in my caboose. Posted by: SCOAMF at May 13, 2015 02:30 PM (fWAjv) Posted by: Garrett at May 13, 2015 02:30 PM (S41VY) 197
Jesus. You'd think that as "mature" as rail technology is, there would be a speed governor built into the system to automatically brake through designated areas.
Especially on government subsidized passenger trains. Posted by: Fritz at May 13, 2015 02:30 PM (UzPAd) 198
It happened one morning about a quarter to four, Pulled up in front of a whorehouse door, Climbed through the window with his cock in his hand, Said, "I'll prove I'm a railroad man." Casey Jones, mounted to his cabin, Casey Jones, had his pecker in his hand, Casey Jones, mounted to his cabin, "Bend over ladies, I'm a railroad man." Posted by: Grump928(c) at May 13, 2015 02:30 PM (evdj2) 199
Zero it out, sell the paperclips, desks, buildings, rails, and rolling stock to whoever will buy it and never spend a red cent on any train again. If it don't pay for itself in today's world, it is obsolete.
We shouldn't run a department store, and the US government certainly shouldn't attempt to run a railroad. Build atomic bombs, buy aircraft carriers, rent trucks. Period. Posted by: Inspector Cussword at May 13, 2015 02:31 PM (FCuM7) 200
100 miles an hour and asleep is no way to go through life.
Posted by: Boss Moss at May 13, 2015 02:31 PM (o68RC) 201
Speed limits are just guidelines really.
Posted by: Boss Moss at May 13, 2015 02:27 PM (o68RC) ------------------------------------ Yes. You are correct. Posted by: Soona at May 13, 2015 02:31 PM (/HX7u) 202
If the engineer is white, he'll get 4 or 5 weeks disciplinary weeks off (with pay).
If he's black, he'll get a medal and a promotion. If the engineer is a black lesbian woman, we've found our next president. Posted by: jwest at May 13, 2015 02:31 PM (9ZZd+) 203
There is that stretch of track across the Australian OutBack that is so straight and monotonous that there is an alarm that sounds every ninety seconds, or two minutes or whatever to keep the engineer awake. But you can get so conditioned to the alarm that you can still be hypnotized and still hit the alarm.
And for the rest of your life, no matter where you are, or what you are doing, your left hand reaches for the alarm button every ninety seconds. Twitch, twitch, twitch. Posted by: Barlow Dondabiter at May 13, 2015 02:31 PM (6vZvS) Posted by: dananjcon at May 13, 2015 02:32 PM (NpXoL) 205
The engineer may been in his late 30's and thus only a year or two away from a cushy retirement.
Posted by: Benji Carver at May 13, 2015 02:32 PM (OD2ni) Posted by: jwest at May 13, 2015 02:33 PM (9ZZd+) 207
The Supersuckers
I saw Supersuckers at a taping of Solid Gold. Marilyn McCoo was shamelessly flirting with them. Posted by: @JohnTant at May 13, 2015 02:33 PM (PFy0L) 208
So...
When the Democrats had control of the legislative and executive branches of government and passed the 2009 Stimulus What Cured the Economy Forever, they put a line item in for a whopping 1.3 billion dollars for Amtrak. For those keeping score, .15 percent of the total package. Apparently, this was insufficient to overcome Newtonian physics. Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at May 13, 2015 02:34 PM (gRnYL) Posted by: Dang at May 13, 2015 02:34 PM (XWo4d) 210
Lets hope the engineer was engrossed in his reading of Atlas Shrugged when all this went down...
Posted by: NSA Commenter CRM114 at May 13, 2015 02:34 PM (hqZPQ) Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at May 13, 2015 02:34 PM (f/jVx) 212
I saw a baby trapped under a rail car and knew there was nothing I could do, but then I thought 'I'm Brain Williams dammit!' and I don't know what it was, adrenaline or maybe some sort of super power I never knew I had, but I lifted the edge of that rail car and rescued that baby. Some at the scene started yelling "hero" and "Olympic God" but I'm just a man.......possibly with super powers.
--- Brian Williams on His Amtrak Experience Posted by: Dr Spank at May 13, 2015 02:34 PM (i55o+) 213
George Zimmerman still refusing to answer questions about deadly train crash
Posted by: Associated Puss at May 13, 2015 02:34 PM (kivUY) 214
I was gonna drive a train, but then I got high.
Posted by: Boss Moss at May 13, 2015 02:34 PM (o68RC) 215
You'd think GoogleAds would be smart enough to know that I just SOLD a used electric meter socket and am probably not in the market to BUY the exact same model new.
I don't mind the robots reading my emails. I just wish they'd understand what they read. I want nood pictures of teenage Susan Saint James, GoogleAds. With the short haircut. Advertise me that. Posted by: Little Miss Spellcheck at May 13, 2015 02:34 PM (iKhVZ) 216
My father worked for the Western Pacific and then the Union Pacific Railroad and was a track supervisor for most of my growing up years. I saw plenty of high Sierra train derailments, because he worked all of them (36 hour shifts) It doesn't take much to derail a train, and usually bad weather conditions were to blame. I sure never heard of anyone traveling at those kinds of speeds, not even in the flat lands. Total insanity.
Posted by: small town girl at May 13, 2015 02:34 PM (bHFF2) 217
I usually have one and sometimes two in my caboose.
Posted by: SCOAMF at May 13, 2015 02:30 PM Amateur! Posted by: Lena Dunham at May 13, 2015 02:34 PM (6GBAx) 218
Why aren't trains automated at this point? Why would a train even be
able to go 100 mph around a curve? How hard could this possibly be? Someone on Twitter noted that we have self-driving cars out and about, but trains (which could trivially be handled entirely by even late 1970s computer technology) are still controlled manually. I assume this is somehow the fault of unions and/or Democrats. Posted by: Ian S. at May 13, 2015 02:34 PM (B/VB5) 219
Republicans refuse to apologize for not giving engineer who was responsible for several deaths a raise.
Posted by: AP at May 13, 2015 02:34 PM (p5jMg) 220
We've replaced this Amtrack Engineer's coffee with genuine Folger's Dilithium Crystals.
Let's watch him take this next turn and see what happens... Posted by: Garrett at May 13, 2015 02:35 PM (S41VY) 221
Ted Cruz axed to explain crash in Spanish.
Posted by: Nip Sip at May 13, 2015 02:35 PM (0FSuD) 222
So, when will Cruz, Jindal, Rubio, Paul et al. start screaming to privatize Amtrack. Why should libs be the only ones to use a crisis to further their ends?
Posted by: Iblis at May 13, 2015 02:35 PM (9221z) 223
I wonder if he's going to use the NASA "metric to imperial" conversion gambit?
Posted by: andycanuck at May 13, 2015 02:35 PM (kivUY) Posted by: Social Justice Physics at May 13, 2015 02:35 PM (ZKzrr) 225
I don't mind the robots reading my emails. I just wish they'd understand what they read.
----- We know exactly what you want. But screw you, meatbag. Posted by: Robots at May 13, 2015 02:35 PM (VAsIq) 226
Hold my beer...
Posted by: Train Engineer watching the speedometer at May 13, 2015 02:35 PM (XWo4d) 227
214: High on marijuana, like Afroman? Or high on cocaine, Like Jerry Garcia?
Posted by: Little Miss Spellcheck at May 13, 2015 02:36 PM (iKhVZ) 228
102 I seriously doubt it is profitable.
Posted by: SH at May 13, 2015 02:15 PM (gmeXX) Fox did a special on AMTRAK and government subsidies. They said this was the only rail line in the country that was profitable. All the rest ran at a loss. Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at May 13, 2015 02:36 PM (wlDny) 229
If google is test driving driver-less cars how hard would safety features be on a train. Your locked on a rail with no where else to go. A GPS road mate can tell you the hwy speed so train track speed has to be easier. All the variables are know in advance. Let the computer run the train and the engineer do what ever they do while the train crashes.
Posted by: OTB at May 13, 2015 02:36 PM (ShdUd) 230
People get hurt in accidents, and even die.
Posted by: Trigger Warning at May 13, 2015 02:36 PM (VAsIq) 231
214
I was gonna drive a train, but then I got high. Posted by: Boss Moss at May 13, 2015 02:34 PM (o68RC) I always loved doing a train at Princeton. Posted by: Moochie at May 13, 2015 02:36 PM (0FSuD) 232
So Ricky Bobby was driving that train?
Posted by: Tilikum Killer Assault Whale at May 13, 2015 02:37 PM (1JqUE) 233
I was gonna drive a train, but then I got high.
Posted by: Boss Moss So I let the train do the driving. It's on a track and everything. Or at least it was on a track... I think. Posted by: Train Engineer watching the speedometer at May 13, 2015 02:37 PM (XWo4d) 234
Satan was whispering in his ear about wyminz on Facebook...
Posted by: Moo Moo & MUMR's Love Child at May 13, 2015 02:37 PM (SFpiC) 235
Apparently Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio weren't riding on the roof.
Posted by: Boss Moss at May 13, 2015 02:37 PM (o68RC) 236
Hey Ted!
Was that the 'L' train or 'el tren'? From your "authentic Hispanic perspective", of course. Posted by: Mark Halperin at May 13, 2015 02:37 PM (NUCTk) 237
If they're getting paid $172,000 please hire me. I'd gladly work for a quarter of that, don't watch porn , hate texting and my cell phone doesn't get internet access.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 13, 2015 02:37 PM (1sJza) 238
I have a blonde question...could this train be cyber-hacked and/or the speed changed for engineer?
I know that certain circumstances like fog have shown (in simulators) that people "think" they are slowing down but are actually going much faster. Or was this like the pilot suicide? Or he was texting his mistress or reading a book (which were seen on DC commuter trains that I have taken). Or, is his nickname "Mo" (in which case i have no further questions, your honor). One would think waswas or usus would take credit for this if due...but with all the cyber stalking and yapping I just wondered if this was the incident they spoke of a few days ago...when London was a target, etc. A friend missed this train by an hour, as he finished work early and took the 6pm train instead. Prayers for those injured and comfort for those who lost loved ones in this horrible crash. xoxo Posted by: ChristyBlinky, Redneck Queen at May 13, 2015 02:38 PM (FCPu0) Posted by: Dang at May 13, 2015 02:38 PM (XWo4d) 240
The Silver Streak is a runaway! What do we do?
Posted by: chiefjaybob at May 13, 2015 02:38 PM (2L77z) 241
215
I want nood pictures of teenage Susan Saint James, GoogleAds. With the short haircut. Advertise me that. Posted by: Little Miss Spellcheck at May 13, 2015 02:34 PM (iKhVZ) Hmm. https://tinyurl.com/m5ob5oj Posted by: rickl at May 13, 2015 02:38 PM (zoehZ) 242
The only reason this corridor runs in the black is via indirect gov't money ie. K Street graft.
So I'm not sure I'd even call this one "profitable". Posted by: Chupacabras at May 13, 2015 02:38 PM (+hPIb) 243
I always loved doing a train at Princeton.
Posted by: Moochie at May 13, 2015 02:36 PM (0FSuD) Let me tell you about trains. Posted by: Jackie Coakley at May 13, 2015 02:38 PM (oKE6c) 244
You see, me and my homies like to play this game
We call it Amtrak but some call it the train. Posted by: 2 Live Crew at May 13, 2015 02:38 PM (UnJ7w) 245
Joo woman baits Engineer with promise of sex and he speeds up to get it.
Highly unlikely. AKA Joo woman. Posted by: MSM Reporter at May 13, 2015 02:39 PM (0FSuD) 246
"There is what they call a 'dead man's button' that must be pushed every 15-30 seconds or the locomotive and braking systems will bring the train to a stop."
The MUNI tram system here in Scum Scamfrisco has controls with a similar mode, except that the operators have the option to override to full manual. Here's what happened when one of them did that and then fell asleep. http://preview.tinyurl.com/nbvqxkv Posted by: torquewrench at May 13, 2015 02:39 PM (noWW6) 247
All the variables are know in advance. Let the computer run the train
and the engineer do what ever they do while the train crashes. It's actually even easier than that, because a single computer could easily know where all the trains in the system are and how fast they're going. (Much like how discussion of driverless cars always ends up at "it's better if the road controls the cars"). Posted by: Ian S. at May 13, 2015 02:39 PM (B/VB5) 248
I always loved doing a train at Princeton.
Posted by: Moochie at May 13, 2015 02:36 PM (0FSuD) I was the original high speed rail. Posted by: Sandra Fluke at May 13, 2015 02:39 PM (zF6Iw) 249
Posted by: Little Miss Spellcheck at May 13, 2015 02:34 PM (iKhVZ)
Susan Saint James with a possible nip slip. Will that work for you? http://tinyurl.com/kq8sqt5 Posted by: wrg500 at May 13, 2015 02:39 PM (sWgE+) 250
If we had converted to the metric system, he'd only be doing 100 kilometers per hour, or per hectare, whatever the metric unit of time is.
Posted by: NSA Commenter CRM114 at May 13, 2015 02:39 PM (hqZPQ) 251
Right Turns Kill
Posted by: NASCAR at May 13, 2015 02:39 PM (S41VY) 252
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at May 13, 2015 02:36 PM (wlDny)
Boston -> NYC -> DC corridor is heavily traveled, and probably is the closest to true profitability of any line in the Amtrak system. But there is no way on earth that it actually makes money if you include the subsidies. Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at May 13, 2015 02:39 PM (k2fxD) 253
In the end, the person who will benefit most from this is Elon Musk. He will manage to convince congress that the answer to this problem is his idea for Hyperloop system and congress will be happy to accommodate him.
After all, we subsidize every car he builds and every launch SpaceX makes. It only makes sense to pay him for his transportation system. Posted by: LoneStarHeeb at May 13, 2015 02:40 PM (BZAd3) 254
I almost made it to the lead engine in time. Crawling along the tops of the cars, eyes streaming due to the force of the rushing air from the mind-numbing speed. I was measuring the jump that would have put me at the door to the engineer's compartment, when tragedy struck. I was thrown clear and, despite my injuries, managed to drag a homeless family to safety before the derailing cars obliterated their humble dwelling.
Hero? I'm no hero. I failed those killed in this horrific crash, and their deaths will haunt me the rest of my days. Posted by: Brian Williams at May 13, 2015 02:41 PM (1I8EA) 255
Apparently Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio weren't riding on the roof.
Posted by: Boss Moss Bobby Jindal was riding between the cars. Wearing flip-flops, holding a plastic bag full of cooked rice and a mouth full of curry. Posted by: Dang at May 13, 2015 02:41 PM (XWo4d) 256
"But you can get so conditioned to the alarm that you can still be hypnotized and still hit the alarm."
People allow themselves to get conditioned to smoke detectors, but instead of hitting a button, they ignore it. Was taking out my trash one Saturday years ago. Heard the unmistakable CHIRP!! of a smoke detector. So I froze for a minute by the next CHIRP!! I realized it was coming from my house. I grabbed a 9V battery and waited in the upstairs hall. CHIRP!! Certain of which apartment it was coming from, I fished out the right key, and ... ... thought better of it. I knocked, just in case the tenants were inside. They were on the couch, almost directly under the smoke detector, watching a movie. I asked them if their smoke detector was chirping - I don't know, maybe they were deaf to that frequency? - yeah, they heard it - just too lazy to change the battery. Posted by: FireHorse at May 13, 2015 02:42 PM (64tBw) 257
Some times you justa wanna go fast.
Posted by: Captain Francesco Schettino at May 13, 2015 02:42 PM (xQX/f) 258
"Bobby Jindal was riding between the cars. Wearing flip-flops, holding a plastic bag full of cooked rice and a mouth full of curry." Clearly on his way to a Mark Halperin interview. Posted by: Tilikum Killer Assault Whale at May 13, 2015 02:42 PM (1JqUE) 259
It's clear to me that our duty lies in notifying our congresscritters and saying we MUST spend more on our choo-choos.
We need to get those curves banked properly so that the train pilots can negotiate those curves at 100 mph if they want to. Posted by: Hank at May 13, 2015 02:42 PM (mb+j8) 260
You know, it's funny that on the I95 corridor Amtrak the DEA never seems to roust the passengers with drug doggies and
I wonder why? Posted by: Daybrother at May 13, 2015 02:43 PM (/cfwA) 261
Ai! Ai! Ai! Ai!
Posted by: Ozzy at May 13, 2015 02:43 PM (yBI9r) 262
I bet the frozen concentrated orange-juice futures report was on that train.
Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at May 13, 2015 02:43 PM (fWAjv) 263
I was so hoping to hear Joe Biden was on that train. Its been a while since I've had any good news.
Posted by: Super Creepy Eric Hoteham at May 13, 2015 02:44 PM (oDCMR) 264
I'm perfectly fine with spending more on infrastructure, that's needed more desperately than people know. The rebuilt bridges etc that were a small portion of the "stimulus" package were the only good thing that came out of it.
But Amtrak is not part of this. It runs on private rails. Union Pacific, Great Northern, etc all own the rails, not the US government. None of that is federal or state infrastructure. Posted by: Christopher Taylor at May 13, 2015 02:44 PM (39g3+) Posted by: SUPER HIMALAYA RIDE OPERATOR at May 13, 2015 02:44 PM (XWo4d) 266
Automation is trivial except you have to find Hindu programmers that can do word problems fluently
Posted by: Bigby's Cellphone Finger at May 13, 2015 02:44 PM (b3gbk) 267
I feel for the people on the train, but after reading a couple of here hold my beer comments:
9 yr old grandson tried one this weekend (sans beer), attempting to get into our 4 ft tall pool.... without the ladder. LOL I had to explain the redneck concept of hey guys just wat this! He survived thanks be Posted by: FCF at May 13, 2015 02:44 PM (kejii) 268
"They were on the couch, almost directly under the smoke detector, watching a movie. I asked them if their smoke detector was chirping - I don't know, maybe they were deaf to that frequency? - yeah, they heard it - just too lazy to change the battery." Maddened by the chirping, driven over the edge by their response, I racked the slide on the Remington 870... Posted by: Tilikum Killer Assault Whale at May 13, 2015 02:45 PM (1JqUE) 269
Why does any train have the ability to surpass the top speed of the line it operates on?
Speed limits vary along a route. Some sections may be 100mph limit. This curve was 50mph. No, you missed part of his comment. You link up a train's max speed to its location using GPS. This is trivially easy. He's not saying make the train's max speed constant according to the lowest max speed along a route. Posted by: bonhomme at May 13, 2015 02:45 PM (jhqr1) 270
Apparently Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio weren't riding on the roof.
But Nikii Haley and her large extended family were hanging out the windows Posted by: MSM at May 13, 2015 02:45 PM (1sJza) 271
Mitt Romney had his dog on the roof of the train while failing to pay his taxes as he shoved women into binders.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at May 13, 2015 02:46 PM (39g3+) Posted by: despair at May 13, 2015 02:46 PM (J6suc) 273
If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88 miles per hour... you're gonna see some serious shit.
Posted by: Dr. Emmett Brown at May 13, 2015 02:46 PM (UnJ7w) 274
most nude Susan Saint James out there right now
http://tinyurl.com/kmf3783 Posted by: Comments at May 13, 2015 02:46 PM (TzeLs) 275
The crashes coming soon in California's high speed rail system will top this crash easy.
Posted by: eman at May 13, 2015 02:47 PM (a1JxR) 276
Automating trains is not a great idea, there's a reason we still have pilots and engineers and drivers. Automation is fine, assuming nothing ever goes wrong or needs to be adjusted on the fly using judgement based on decades of experience.
We're not there yet. Posted by: Christopher Taylor at May 13, 2015 02:47 PM (39g3+) Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 13, 2015 02:47 PM (1sJza) 278
"I bet the frozen concentrated orange-juice futures report was on that train." Haha. Where the hell is Beeks. Posted by: Benji Carver at May 13, 2015 02:47 PM (OD2ni) 279
Trains are the most rapey form of transportation and trigger a sense of shame in a lot of women, here's an artist's rendition of what I'm talking about : http://tinyurl.com/kygk95l
--- Now Spokeshuman Terry Grindhouse Posted by: Dr Spank at May 13, 2015 02:47 PM (i55o+) 280
263
I was so hoping to hear Joe Biden was on that train. Its been a while since I've had any good news. Poor ole joe won't be able to disrupt travelers on the train for a month at least. I hate that for him Posted by: Nip Sip at May 13, 2015 02:48 PM (0FSuD) 281
Bank those curves properly and the passenger trains could do loops and corkscrews like the rollercoaster at the amusement parks. People would pay extra for that.
It's just a simple engineering problem. It's not like quantum physics. Posted by: Barlow Dondabiter at May 13, 2015 02:48 PM (6vZvS) 282
"You link up a train's max speed to its location using GPS. This is trivially easy."
I thought that the tracks themselves transmitted speed limits and other information directly to the train's engine and governors. Posted by: FireHorse at May 13, 2015 02:48 PM (64tBw) Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn at May 13, 2015 02:48 PM (UhRGU) 284
DO YOU WANNA GO FASTER?!?
I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!! Posted by: SUPER HIMALAYA RIDE OPERATOR I loath that guy. Almost as much as the 'High and Dry' dunking clown. Posted by: Grump928(c) at May 13, 2015 02:48 PM (evdj2) 285
I thought i could
I thought i could Posted by: Amtrak Train at May 13, 2015 02:48 PM (/eTPT) 286
There is such a thing as Automatic Train Control to limit train speeds. So why doesnt Amtrak use it? Tiny Url http://tinyurl.com/q6jt5px
Posted by: Delurk Ergo Sum at May 13, 2015 02:49 PM (sTm/x) 287
Apparently Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio weren't riding on the roof.
No room, Mitt had already lashed a kennel of dogs and binders of women up there. Posted by: Hillary Clinton Supporter at May 13, 2015 02:49 PM (xQX/f) 288
Am I supposed t fall for that? Is GoogleAds now automating blog comments with the totally believable handle "Comments"?
Posted by: Little Miss Spellcheck at May 13, 2015 02:49 PM (iKhVZ) Posted by: Ricky Bobby Amtrak Conductor at May 13, 2015 02:49 PM (1JqUE) 290
Fenelon, he is fine just being a boy. I think they all have to learn from dumb shit!
Posted by: FCF at May 13, 2015 02:50 PM (kejii) 291
Just because you refuse to accept responsibility does not mean you are not responsible.
Posted by: Ass of AIDS at May 13, 2015 02:50 PM (xkSSa) 292
Yes; Bobby Jindal was between the cars when he wasn't hanging out the window with Nikki Haley's large extended family.
Posted by: MSM at May 13, 2015 02:50 PM (1sJza) Posted by: Dang at May 13, 2015 02:50 PM (XWo4d) 294
Pam Geller refuses to back down after Pennsylvania train disaster.
Posted by: Grump928(c) at May 13, 2015 02:50 PM (evdj2) Posted by: Bruce J. at May 13, 2015 02:50 PM (iQIUe) 296
Serves the Iron Horse right for bringing the buffalo hunters and the homesteaders and the other palefaces to despoil our sacred lands!
Posted by: Sen. Elizabeth Warren at May 13, 2015 02:50 PM (YFFpo) 297
Automating trains is not a great idea, there's a reason we still have pilots and engineers and drivers. Automation is fine, assuming nothing ever goes wrong or needs to be adjusted on the fly using judgment based on decades of experience.
Google's self-crashing cars have a driver sitting right there, ready to take over. You can automate a max limit according to track stretch easily. This would override the part of an engineer that does stupid things like drive 2x the speed limit without overriding important things like slowing down below the speed limit when conditions require. Posted by: bonhomme at May 13, 2015 02:51 PM (jhqr1) 298
>>No, you missed part of his comment. You link up a train's max speed to its location using GPS. This is trivially easy.
MacGyver could make an inertia control system with a styrofoam cup, a ping pong ball, a toothpick and a Walkman. But not until we pause for a brief commercial break. Posted by: Garrett at May 13, 2015 02:51 PM (S41VY) 299
288 Am I supposed t fall for that? Is GoogleAds now automating blog comments with the totally believable handle "Comments"?
Posted by: Little Miss Spellcheck at May 13, 2015 02:49 PM (iKhVZ) --- Yeah that joke has totes been played, my apologies. Posted by: Comments at May 13, 2015 02:52 PM (TzeLs) 300
Christopher Taylor @ 276 -
Agreed. Train driving is a skill - one that pays accordingly. Yet, I thought that trains were already partially automated. Posted by: FireHorse at May 13, 2015 02:52 PM (64tBw) 301
107 mph, Morons.
I am voting for the German Wings theory (which always reminds me of "Lace Wigs" because I have read here too much over the years and destroyed brain cells). Posted by: ChristyBlinky, Redneck Queen at May 13, 2015 02:52 PM (FCPu0) 302
Yet, I thought that trains were already partially automated.
Posted by: FireHorse Well, for starters, they're on tracks...Or, were. Posted by: Blue Hen at May 13, 2015 02:53 PM (Spluw) 303
I thought that the tracks themselves transmitted speed limits and other information directly to the train's engine and governors.
That may be the case. I don't know. I'm picturing a GPS tattler unit variably regulating the train's max speed along track segments. Posted by: bonhomme at May 13, 2015 02:53 PM (jhqr1) 304
How about a 100% Amtrak budget cut to avoid these problems in the future on a system that doesn't have enough customers to break even?
Posted by: jjak at May 13, 2015 02:54 PM (KryBY) 305
Its possible the guy had health issues, its possible some braking mechanisms failed and the thing was going too fast due to a hill (what? they have hills in Pennsylvania. Little ones.). This is pretty darn unlikely, given the fact that trains are partly automated (as noted above by others) and every single car has a brake on it. The guy might have been really hopped up on something or drunk out of his mind, too.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at May 13, 2015 02:55 PM (39g3+) 306
Hey, it may have been going 100 MPH, but on the bright side, at least we were able to find the wreckage within minutes. That's got to count for something. Right Malaysia?
Posted by: Big Government Railroad System at May 13, 2015 02:55 PM (iAUf+) 307
MacGyver could make an inertia control system with a styrofoam cup, a ping pong ball, a toothpick and a Walkman.
But not until we pause for a brief commercial break. Not to mention what can be build in a CAVE with a bunch of SCRAPS!!!!! Posted by: zombie Obadaiah Stane at May 13, 2015 02:55 PM (DT3rQ) 308
100mph seems excessive to me for any billion ton vehicle even on a straight run.
Posted by: Comments at May 13, 2015 02:55 PM (TzeLs) 309
Great Camero, Truck, Semi crash on Tosh last nite: All three drivers in that video are complete assholes. Posted by: eleven at May 13, 2015 02:56 PM (IPzoI) 310
I am voting for the German Wings theory (which
always reminds me of "Lace Wigs" because I have read here too much over the years and destroyed brain cells). Posted by: ChristyBlinky, Redneck Queen at May 13, 2015 02:52 PM (FCPu0) WTF the Lace Wig guy is responsible? I always wondered about him. Posted by: Nip Sip at May 13, 2015 02:57 PM (0FSuD) 311
Hey, it may have been going 100 MPH, but on the bright side, at least we were able to find the wreckage within minutes. That's got to count for something. Right Malaysia?
MH370 Found In Busy Roundabout Near Derailed Train Posted by: Brother Cavil, down with Eph 6:12 at May 13, 2015 02:57 PM (DT3rQ) 312
Headline: Seven Dead Passengers Directly Involved in Train's Speed Limit Violation.
Posted by: Soona at May 13, 2015 02:57 PM (/HX7u) 313
Notice we know the names of the dead but not of the engineer. This may be a symptom of why we are so f'ked as a country.
Posted by: Super Creepy Eric Hoteham at May 13, 2015 02:58 PM (oDCMR) 314
thing was going too fast due to a hill
No hills of any consequence in that section of Philly. The only serious question left in my mind is what was engineers preferred recreational drug. Posted by: SE Pa Moron at May 13, 2015 02:59 PM (xQX/f) 315
>>I'm picturing a GPS tattler unit variably regulating the train's max speed along track segments.
I'm picturing two sweaty, muscular men shoveling coal into a furnace while a train bursts out of a tunnel with a plume of white steam pouring out of the stack... Brb. Posted by: Anderson Cooper at May 13, 2015 02:59 PM (S41VY) 316
This WaPo story talks about AMTRAK profitability and it is more current than that Fox special from several years ago. The short haul routes. like this one ARE profitable. The long hail routes are the big money losers.
http://wapo.st/1EEXkc5 Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at May 13, 2015 02:59 PM (wlDny) 317
Nood
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at May 13, 2015 02:59 PM (wlDny) 318
dash cam, I've wanted one for years, but now I don't drive. . . and that vid, I could see that wreck coming even without the title. The guy with the camera had enough sense to back out of it a couple of times, but at the end I think he hits the mile marker sign.
The guy with the covered wagon did a good job of not turning the truck over when he went off the road. Posted by: Barlow Dondabiter at May 13, 2015 02:59 PM (6vZvS) 319
Well so much for Ted Cruz being president. All this death and destruction just so he could filibuster the ACA and try to rob poor people of their right to medical access!
Posted by: Arson Wells at May 13, 2015 02:59 PM (UnJ7w) 320
Is there an Air Force 3 that can fly Plugs to and from Delaware that has a folksy way about it?
Posted by: Super Creepy Eric Hoteham at May 13, 2015 02:59 PM (oDCMR) 321
Obviously the problem is that Amtrak has already implemented high speed rail while the Republicans refused to authorize the proper infrastructure.
Posted by: Daybrother at May 13, 2015 03:01 PM (/cfwA) 322
100mph seems excessive to me for any billion ton vehicle even on a straight run.
Not if you're on meth! Posted by: hadoop at May 13, 2015 03:02 PM (q43qw) 323
I wish Amtrak was gone and some private company was running the trains. Yes, it would cost a lot more, but they'd run on time. Amtrak is frustratingly slow, never on time, and spends a lot of time on side spurs cooling its heels as a commercial train trundles by. They must give the right-of-way to paying trains, since all they are doing is renting rails from companies.
If Union Pacific ran the commuter trains, they'd run much more regularly on time and would be scheduled so they wouldn't have to give way to freight. And probably they'd be a better ride. Amtrak used to have these huge epic barcalounger seats that were super comfortable. Then they went to smaller cars with smaller seats and less legroom like a plane, and it sucks. Granted, you can get up and walk around on a train so its not as awful as a plane ride but still. Those old seats were wonderful. Posted by: Christopher Taylor at May 13, 2015 03:02 PM (39g3+) 324
Railway right-of-ways are part of Federal infrastructure? Just like the interstate highways? Who knew? Posted by: furious_a at May 13, 2015 03:02 PM (xDQNc) 325
All three drivers in that video are complete assholes.
Posted by: eleven at May 13, 2015 02:56 PM (IPzoI) What? Seems like the only asshole is the Camero. Truck never changes speed and pickup is blocking the asshole Camero that tried to run him off the road. You want him behind you NOT in front of you. Posted by: Nip Sip at May 13, 2015 03:03 PM (0FSuD) 326
I always flush when we are in the station...
Posted by: Moo Moo & MUMR's Love Child at May 13, 2015 03:03 PM (SFpiC) 327
Joe Biden on that train would have prevented all of this. I can see Joe behind the engineer, in a chair turned backwards, with his hands gently resting on the engineer's shoulders whispering sweet nothings into his ear. Hell, that train wouldn't have got up to 20 mph much less 100mph.
Posted by: Arson Wells at May 13, 2015 03:04 PM (UnJ7w) 328
Maybe ole Joey was driving the train and shouting "choo choo!" and that is why name is not released.
His statement will be: "I like Amtrack and trains!" as he walks into a tree. Posted by: ChristyBlinky, Redneck Queen at May 13, 2015 03:05 PM (FCPu0) 329
His statement will be: "I like Amtrack and trains!" as he walks into a tree.
Posted by: ChristyBlinky, Redneck Queen at May 13, 2015 03:05 PM (FCPu0) LOL, holy shit i almost pissed myself reading that! Posted by: Arson Wells at May 13, 2015 03:06 PM (UnJ7w) 330
275 The crashes coming soon in California's high speed rail system will top this crash easy.
Posted by: eman at May 13, 2015 02:47 PM (a1JxR) Yep. There will be some truly epic train wrecks in California's HIGH. SPEED. RAIL. Assuming it ever gets built, and ever exceeds 15 mph. The good news is that no one will get hurt, because ridership will be non-existent. Posted by: Jay Guevara at May 13, 2015 03:08 PM (oKE6c) 331
That wasn't so bad, I say we build one that goes 200mph.
Posted by: Jerry Burnout Brown at May 13, 2015 03:12 PM (wAQA5) 332
Why didn't the engineer just tell everybody to lean left?
Posted by: Jerry Burnout Brown at May 13, 2015 03:13 PM (wAQA5) 333
He was going round a curve
Doing hundred miles an hour His union rep commenced to suborn For he'd been found in the wreck With his hand on his weiner His cell phone displaying teh porn Posted by: Johnny Cash at May 13, 2015 03:17 PM (jXKtj) 334
There are already fully automated trains in operation and they have a good safety record. It is a lot easier to make a computer operated railroad than a computer operated automobile.
Any safety arguments you can make about having a human being in control are refuted by the information that the engineer was traveling at twice the 50 mph speed limit. Posted by: Obnoxious A-Hole at May 13, 2015 03:18 PM (KDbAT) 335
What.. no one has brought up Gomez Addams crashing trains? *sigh* Kids these days.
Posted by: THE Big, Old, Fat guy at May 13, 2015 03:20 PM (rVGaB) 336
Any safety arguments you can make about having a human being in control are refuted by the information that the engineer was traveling at twice the 50 mph speed limit.
This is a fallacious argument. How many times has this happened? Once, in over 100 years of train travel. In other words, for hundreds of thousands of trips by trains, it never happened because a human was there. But you want to pretend the one time it happened is proof that humans should be replaced entirely by computers. Should the computer make one error ever, is that proof that they should be abandoned totally? Your logic fu is weak, grasshopper. Posted by: Christopher Taylor at May 13, 2015 03:26 PM (39g3+) 337
Wow. Female NYPD walking on street when attacked by guy with a hammer. Her partner shot him. https://goo.gl/YN88oM Posted by: Bruce J. at May 13, 2015 03:29 PM (iQIUe) Posted by: Elmer Fudd, NTSB Investigator at May 13, 2015 03:34 PM (iAUf+) Posted by: Russtovich at May 13, 2015 03:36 PM (8zhoe) 340
Tracks? Like on my arm? And leg? And peener? And eye ball?
Posted by: Moo Moo & MUMR's Love Child at May 13, 2015 03:37 PM (SFpiC) 341
Democratic talking point:
"We must abolish guns... if it saves just one life." Not replace "guns" with "Amtrak". Posted by: Russtovich at May 13, 2015 03:39 PM (8zhoe) 342
Yeah but that came from Nutter who's not the most up to date on current events nor is he likely to offer any thing that might be considered critical of government.
And if the Engineer was Black, forget it. Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That at May 13, 2015 03:40 PM (zRby/) 343
Look for the union label
On their undies down around their knees Look for the union label While they sodomize meeeee! Posted by: Moo Moo & MUMR's Love Child at May 13, 2015 03:47 PM (SFpiC) 344
Old Charlie stole the handle and the train it won't stop going, no way to slow down --
Posted by: Keith Arnold at May 13, 2015 03:49 PM (iIzG7) Posted by: wth at May 13, 2015 03:53 PM (wAQA5) 346
240 The Silver Streak is a runaway! What do we do?
Posted by: chiefjaybob at May 13, 2015 02:38 PM (2L77z) Go... FASTER! Posted by: Jack Traven, looking for a threequel at May 13, 2015 03:56 PM (qnFe9) 347
"283 Why does the engineer's shirt have a 'Clinton Global Initiative' logo?"
I don't know what the engineer was wearing, but that's the mayor. Posted by: Deb at May 13, 2015 03:56 PM (hs9Ok) 348
Did someone request a train puller?
Posted by: Sandra Fluke at May 13, 2015 04:20 PM (1lH1A) 349
Most people travelling distances are getting a subsidy of one sort of another. Not sure about bus service (Greyhound and the like), but airline passengers are subsidized. Perhaps not the extent that Amtrak is, but still a subsidy is a subsidy. For instance, I drive about 80 miles to a small airport to fly Delta. I could go the 10 miles to the closest airport. BUT...here's the kicker: driving the 80 miles (and getting free parking) routinely saves me at least $200, and many times it will be as much as $300. Now, some of this because the local airport is run by the city, and they're probably charging Delta higher fees (long term parking is $10/day), and Delta probably sees those passengers as a bit of a captive audience that is used to higher costs. But some of it is because the FAA is giving Delta money to service the smaller airport. And yes, I cheerfully accept that money. Thanks, guys! Posted by: I R A Darth Aggie at May 13, 2015 04:42 PM (1hM1d) 350
"Force on an object traveling around a curve is proportional to the
square of the velocity. Going twice as fast means four times the force. Physics can be a real bitch sometimes." This is simply not true. The centripetal force is directly proportional to the velocity. Maybe you're thinking of kinetic energy? Posted by: Chris M at May 13, 2015 05:18 PM (k3w9p) 351
I go real fast when I hit that crack pipe.
Posted by: Casey Jones at May 13, 2015 05:33 PM (qrUnl) 352
I can't wait to drive Moonbeam's 'High' Speed Rail!
* insert crack pipe hit here* Posted by: Casey Jones at May 13, 2015 05:35 PM (qrUnl) 353
I'm unionized!
Posted by: Casey Jones at May 13, 2015 05:41 PM (qrUnl) 354
I don't know if any commented on this already, but the dude in the picture at the press conference (on that Twitter post) is wearing a shirt with the Clinton Global Initiative logo on it. Can't we get away from these people?
Posted by: JohnBoy at May 13, 2015 07:54 PM (4trVc) 355
Engineer was Brandon Bostian. White man, 32 years old.
Apparently he's already been quizzed by the authorities, but we'll see. The engineer who was going double the speed limit in the Spuyten Dyvil wreck (NYC) was just "suspended without pay," but not charged with manslaughter or criminal negligence, which is obscene. People died in that derailment, too. He is facing some civil lawsuits, apparently. People just furious that there's no accountability for these horrific acts. Posted by: Beverly at May 14, 2015 12:46 AM (EOreg) 356
Headline: incompetent government worker with VERY nice pension benefits kills several taxpayers, possibly minorities.
Posted by: Ubik at May 14, 2015 11:26 PM (1TSaj) Processing 0.03, elapsed 0.0432 seconds. |
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