Trip to Chicago - a crash

[delalluvia]

Hi guys,

A friend rented an apartment in downtown Chicago for a month doing some soul searching and taking a vacation.  She invited me up.  Said it'd be relatively cheap since I could stay with her for free.

I managed some days off from work, but was too late to get a good airfare, so I decided to take the train.  I left Wednesday afternoon, the train to arrive in Chicago on Thursday around 1:45 pm.

You guys know how terrified I am about possibly being in a plane crash...never occurred to me that deaths could result in a train crash I was in as well:

2 Killed in Amtrak Train Accident

June 19, 2009

A husband and his wife are dead after an Amtrak train bound for Chicago struck their car in southwest suburban Romeoville.

The Amtrak Texas Eagle train just stopped in Joliet and was bound for downtown Chicago when it slammed into the car crossing the tracks at about 1:10 p.m. Thursday.

Harry Hoffman, 76 , and Doreen Hoffman, 64, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses say that the car tried to cross the tracks but the grade crossing arm came down onto the windshield of the victims’ car. The couple tried to put the car in reverse but it was too late.

Passengers remained on the train after the crash. The train was allowed to continue on its route at 3:55 p.m.

http://www.legalinfo360.com/2009/06/2-killed-in-amtrak-train-accident/

 

This is the train I was on.  We were 30 miles outside of Chicago.  I barely saw the car out of the corner of my eye as we were passing, but the girl sitting in front of me did.  She saw bodies flying and started freaking out.  I was sitting on the side of the train that it happened and the train is such a powerful thing that it bashing a car and sending it flying and killing people didn't even send a ripple across my soda. 

We stopped on the track as the story says for about 2 hours, but what the story doesn't say is that we were allowed to continue but came to a stop 30 feet down the track because debris was under the train.  A mechanic had to come out from Chicago to inspect the engine and make sure it was OK to continue.  We sat on the tracks another 2 hours and finally got going at 6:15 pm and crept into Chicago about 7 pm. 

Not the most auspicious start to my trip.   

When i disembarked, I saw my fellow passengers taking pictures of the front of the train where the wreck happened.  I don't know parts of trains, but what looks like a front bumper was bent down.  I didn't take a picture because - frighteningly - the train didn't look much affected by the wreck at all. 

[CellarDweller]

Oh man!

What a horrible thing to have happen!

[Kelda]

Del, OMG, thats horrible.

I'm so glad you're okay!

[Jeff Wrangler]

OMG, that's awful! Jesus H.! 

I don't know parts of trains, but what looks like a front bumper was bent down.

Railroaders call it the locomotive pilot. In the old days of steam locomotives, it was the cowcatcher, although I think even then it was "formally" know as the pilot.

And I just heard on the NBC network news that there's been a terrible commuter rail crash just outside Washington, D.C. NBC had film showing one train on top of the other.    There were fatalities.

Of course, all these train disasters would happen the summer I'm planning a lengthy train trip. ... 

[Front-Ranger]

Della, you must be quite shaken up, even tho your soda didn't have a ripple. You have quite a way with words.

Well, Jeff, all these crashes mean there is less chance of a crash on YOUR trip. Don't they??

[delalluvia]

Thanks guys.

It shook me up, that's for sure. 

Made me more cautious - paranoid - of crashes and possible derailments.

Yes just heard about the commuter crashes.     Now, I'd be paranoid of other trains running into me.

Poor Jeff.   

[Jeff Wrangler]

Made me more cautious - paranoid - of crashes and possible derailments.

Yes just heard about the commuter crashes.     Now, I'd be paranoid of other trains running into me.

Poor Jeff.   

Thanks, Del. Plus, I think I remember hearing that a freight train carrying chemicals blew up somewhere in the Midwest not too long ago, too. 

[delalluvia]

There's video and a pic of my train:

http://www.wgntv.com/wgntv-twodead-amtrak-june18,0,3243375.story

[Penthesilea]

 
What a horrible thing to witness, Del. I'm sorry you had to go through this shocking experience.

[David In Indy]

OMG Del! That is terrible! I am so glad you are okay!

I heard about that train wreck. It happened the same night we had those storms come through. Thank God you are alright!

[Ellemeno]

Del, I'm sorry to hear about this.  I was in San Diego recently, where there were many of those places where you have to cross the train tracks while driving along.  I hate crossing train tracks.

I recognize that big white building - it's the Baha'i Temple in Wilmette, isn't it?  I used to pass it on the train many years ago.  It's beautiful.

[delalluvia]

Del, I'm sorry to hear about this.  I was in San Diego recently, where there were many of those places where you have to cross the train tracks while driving along.  I hate crossing train tracks.

I recognize that big white building - it's the Baha'i Temple in Wilmette, isn't it?  I used to pass it on the train many years ago.  It's beautiful.

I hate crossing train tracks too.  I grew up near a railroad and my parents instilled in me a mighty respect for them, so I'm extra careful crossing them.

Yes, it's the Baha'i Temple.  I'm guessing you're right about where it's at.  I'm not sure.     My friend was driving.  We were going to visit her alma mater of Northwestern and she had been roommates with the granddaughter of one of the founders of the Baha'i religion and so was very familiar with the building and the religion and thought I'd like to see it.

Yes, it's amazingly beautiful place.  Looks airy, frothy, like being inside a wedding cake.  You don't feel any weight above you like you do in the great basilicas in Europe, but you still have a massive dome.  I was extremely impressed with the temple and the religion.

[Jeff Wrangler]

Yes, it's the Baha'i Temple.  I'm guessing you're right about where it's at.  I'm not sure.     My friend was driving.  We were going to visit her alma mater of Northwestern and she had been roommates with the granddaughter of one of the founders of the Baha'i religion and so was very familiar with the building and the religion and thought I'd like to see it.

Yes, it's amazingly beautiful place.  Looks airy, frothy, like being inside a wedding cake.  You don't feel any weight above you like you do in the great basilicas in Europe, but you still have a massive dome.  I was extremely impressed with the temple and the religion.

I was wondering about that building, too. It's beautiful!

After getting off to such a shocking start, I sure hope the rest of your trip is a lot of fun, Del. 

[mariez]

OMG, what an awful experience.  I'm a bit paranoid about crossing train tracks, and I'll sometimes go out of my way to avoid them. 

And then the Washington D.C. story on top of this .....

[Brown Eyes]

So sorry to hear about this experience.  I'm certainly glad you're OK.  {{del}}

[SFEnnisSF]

Yes it's been an excitin' week out on the rails for sure.  Things happen in three's, so hopefully this is the end of it for now.

But I do want to tell ya'all that it's unfortunate, but folks get hit by trains quite often.  There is about one accident a week in the USA on the rails.  Most of the time it is people not paying attention and just walking or driving right into the trains path.  People have forgotten "STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN" these days.  Other times, they are deliberate suicides.

In all my time of riding Amtrak, I have only been on a train that has hit someone only once.  So the odds of it happening are quite low.  And no, as a passenger, you don't feel anything.  But the delay to your train is very unfortunate.  Expect a two hour minimum delay if it does happen.  But hey, there's the snack car and at least they sell cocktails and beer.

And I don't mean to sound insensitive.  But I mean, trains have been around since the early 1800's.  And these days people are so pre-occupied with their Ipod's or texting on their phone, and they're in such a hurry, that a lot of folks are just not paying attention.  It's unfortunate.  And the suicides.  What a selfish thing to do as it is.  And then delay all of these passengers because of your selfishness... Grrrr!

But Del, I think it's great you were riding the Texas Eagle.  How exciting! Where did you board the train at?

[delalluvia]

In all my time of riding Amtrak, I have only been on a train that has hit someone only once.  So the odds of it happening are quite low.

True, but what are the odds of it happening on the very first U.S. train ride of my adult life?   

But hey, there's the snack car and at least they sell cocktails and beer.

We were 30 minutes from Chicago - and restocking. i.e. they were out of food/drinks and had closed the snack bar and dining car.  After about an hour and half, they offered free bottled water and snack packs - which they ran out of after about 20 minutes.  There were 250 of us on the train and we waited for 5 hours.  We started to wonder when the toilets would start to overflow and if this would become the Amtrak version of the BlueJet incident.

I had expected to get to town by 2 pm and have a late lunch with my friend and so didn't take the lunch offered on the train.  With the accident, it turned out that it was nearly 10 pm before I was able to get something to eat.

I had noticed their weird practices earlier and thought it bizarre that a train that offered a dining car and snack bar would not stock itself completely.  They actually ran out of food.  They'd offer reservations for dinner and by the late dinner, they were out of all but a few items.  They'd make announcements for first come first serve breakfast and lunch, then call a cut-off time because they were out of food.

Is Amtrak subsidized by the government or what?

And I don't mean to sound insensitive.  But I mean, trains have been around since the early 1800's.  And these days people are so pre-occupied with their Ipod's or texting on their phone, and they're in such a hurry, that a lot of folks are just not paying attention.  It's unfortunate.  And the suicides.  What a selfish thing to do as it is.  And then delay all of these passengers because of your selfishness... Grrrr!

I feel so badly for the family of the victims, but you're right, I forgot about the conductors/engineers/drivers whatever they call them.  It can't be pleasant to know that someone was killed while you were driving, but there wasn't anything you could do about it.

But Del, I think it's great you were riding the Texas Eagle.  How exciting! Where did you board the train at?

In Texas, it was a 22.5 hour ride to Chicago, stopping in every 1 John Deere tractor town between Texas and St. Louis...

[SFEnnisSF]

Is Amtrak subsidized by the government or what?

BINGO!!  You win.  How could you tell, really??

Yes, the service on Amtrak is atrocious!!  It's especially bad on the Texas Eagle unfortunately.  And it runs out of food because they only get stocked with food in Chicago for the whole trip to San Antonio and back to Chicago.

I am a hard core railfan and I love riding trains, and I can't even handle riding Long Distance Amtrak trains anymore.  Which is such a shame! 

I feel so badly for the family of the victims, but you're right, I forgot about the conductors/engineers/drivers whatever they call them.  It can't be pleasant to know that someone was killed while you were driving, but there wasn't anything you could do about it. 

Yes, it can be very unpleasant for the Engineer and Conductor to have to deal with.  I've heard it said that if you become an Engineer on the RR, it is expected that you will hit and kill at least one person in your career.

In Texas, it was a 22.5 hour ride to Chicago, stopping in every 1 John Deere tractor town between Texas and St. Louis...

There are some changes coming to the Texas Eagle.  It will soon be a daily through train from Los Angeles to Chicago (and vice versa) with full service.  I'm hoping service will improve on the train when this happens.  But I ain't holdin' my breath unfortunately. 

[SFEnnisSF]

 

I especially love the ebonics wine tasting. 



Click to enlarge:

[Kelda]

My dad was a tueb driver in the London underground for about 15 years I believe (we're not close so not sure fo exact timescales and he took early retirement about a year ago)

He had 2 jumpers in his time - but he knew of one who had had 9. 

You automatically get signed off on full pay for 3 months.. more if required but you can't take any less. You also have to see a councillor for a specific length of time whether you need it or not.

[delalluvia]

My dad was a tueb driver in the London underground for about 15 years I believe (we're not close so not sure fo exact timescales and he took early retirement about a year ago)

He had 2 jumpers in his time - but he knew of one who had had 9.

You automatically get signed off on full pay for 3 months.. more if required but you can't take any less. You also have to see a councillor for a specific length of time whether you need it or not.

That is absolutely unholiness awful. 

I'm so glad to read there was psychological help for the drivers.  Not sure what Amtrak offers its employees.

[SFEnnisSF]

I'm so glad to read there was psychological help for the drivers.  Not sure what Amtrak offers its employees.

The Amtrak engineers get the same help and resources available to them as the freight engineers in these types of situations.  It's all FRA (Federal Railroad Administration) mandated.

[Jeff Wrangler]

I am a hard core railfan and I love riding trains, and I can't even handle riding Long Distance Amtrak trains anymore.  Which is such a shame! 

Oh, gee, thanks, Eric! Now you tell me!     

[Jeff Wrangler]

They'd offer reservations for dinner and by the late dinner, they were out of all but a few items.  They'd make announcements for first come first serve breakfast and lunch, then call a cut-off time because they were out of food.

I guess I'd better plan on trying to snag early seatings for meals. ... 

[delalluvia]

I guess I'd better plan on trying to snag early seatings for meals. ... 

I'd pack as much of my own food as possible if I were you  The dining car food that I ate was about the same quality as you find in hospitals or out of those vendors you see hanging around bars at 1 in the morning.  The taste of food that has been pre-cooked and kept warm for days. 

The snackbar sells pre-packaged foods of the quality you find in convenience stores, ready for heating in the microwave.

Don't forget to pack Dramamine or some other motion sickness meds.  I packed some, but found when I finally did start to get motion sickness, a little lemon-lime soda and peanut M&Ms worked wonders. Take a blanket/jacket/sweater, it gets damned cold at night.

[Jeff Wrangler]

I'd pack as much of my own food as possible if I were you  The dining car food that I ate was about the same quality as you find in hospitals or out of those vendors you see hanging around bars at 1 in the morning.  The taste of food that has been pre-cooked and kept warm for days. 

The snackbar sells pre-packaged foods of the quality you find in convenience stores, ready for heating in the microwave.

Don't forget to pack Dramamine or some other motion sickness meds.  I packed some, but found when I finally did start to get motion sickness, a little lemon-lime soda and peanut M&Ms worked wonders. Take a blanket/jacket/sweater, it gets damned cold at night.

Were you traveling in Coach, Del?

[SFEnnisSF]

Always Always Always get the first seating for lunch and dinner reservations.  They will still have everything on the menu, and the dining car staff aren't grouchy and tired yet.  Also, if you eat a large meal with the desserts they serve close to bed time, you won't be able to sleep.  Trust me!  Don't forget, all you're doing on a train is sitting and eating.   

The food leaves a little to be desired.  Back in 2006 congress demanded Amtrak lower all its food costs.  This meant the elimination of real plates (so they could fire the dishwashers) and a switch from fresh cooked food to pre-packaged "microwave/convection meals".  It's a damn shame.

However, Dinner is still pretty good.  You can't go wrong with the chicken.  Always ask for the steak well done, because it will come out somewhat rare anyways.  If you ask for it rare, it will still be moving on your plate.  I rarely hear complaints about the pasta dishes.  The peanut butter chocolate torte for dessert is a killer.  I've never seen anyone be able to finish it because it's so rich.  I've taken bets with table mates that they wouldn't be able to finish it and I always win! 

Breakfast is ok.  They still serve grits!!  The omelets are pre-packaged, but they're ok I guess.  Scrambled eggs are powered egg mix.  French toast is what it is.

Lunch is an ABSOLUTE DISASTER.  The burgers are the same burgers they serve in the cafe car, they just put some Ruffles chips on your plate and a pickle.  They'll usually offer a salad, and that's ok.  There might be a warm sandwich offered, which will have processed cheese goo on it, stay away from that.  But with lunch, you still get dessert.

And by the way, this crappy Simplified Dining Service (SDS) is in effect on all trains EXCEPT FOR THE EMPIRE BUILDER.  The EMPIERE BUILDER still operates with REAL PLATES and CUPS, real waitresses/waiters, and REAL FOOD COOKED FRESH ON BOARD THE TRAIN TO ORDER.    So, enjoy the food on the EB as much as you can.

[SFEnnisSF]

Oh, gee, thanks, Eric! Now you tell me!     

Oh for your first trip you're going to enjoy it!  It's those of us who've worn it out who are bitter and jaded. 

[Jeff Wrangler]

Oh for your first trip you're going to enjoy it!  It's those of us who've worn it out who are bitter and jaded. 

  

[delalluvia]

Were you traveling in Coach, Del?

Yep.  Had I decided to go up a class, I might as well have paid for airline tickets and saved myself 20 hours.

[Jeff Wrangler]

Lunch is an ABSOLUTE DISASTER.  The burgers are the same burgers they serve in the cafe car, they just put some Ruffles chips on your plate and a pickle.  They'll usually offer a salad, and that's ok.  There might be a warm sandwich offered, which will have processed cheese goo on it, stay away from that.  But with lunch, you still get dessert.

You forget I'm from Philadelphia, home of the cheese steak. It isn't a real cheese steak if it isn't made with processed cheese goo. 

[Kerry]

My dad was a tueb driver in the London underground for about 15 years I believe (we're not close so not sure fo exact timescales and he took early retirement about a year ago)

He had 2 jumpers in his time - but he knew of one who had had 9. 

You automatically get signed off on full pay for 3 months.. more if required but you can't take any less. You also have to see a councillor for a specific length of time whether you need it or not.

A friend of mine had been a policeman in London before coming to Australia, where he also worked as a policeman, before deciding on a career change to the ambulance service. He is now retired to Queensland (the Australian equivalent of Florida) and says that he saw more blood and gore as a Sydney ambulance officer than he ever did as a policeman in London. He told me that people regularly jump in front of trains in Sydney. So often, in fact, that they are not reported in the media, because they're just a regular event. Sad but true. A story did make it to the media some years ago when the wife of a train driver made a public appeal to potential suicides. She pleaded with them to consider another method of suicide, because several had jumped in front of her husband's train and he was in a very distressed state about it (the train drivers here in Oz mustn't get 3 months off when this happens). My ambulance officer friend told me that he always tried to detach himself from the situation when he was called to a jumper. He said that they usually collected variations on three separate body pieces, which they respectfully placed in correct order on the stretcher. It's not a job I could do. Thank goodness there are valiant people like my friend who can do it.

[Kelda]

Thank goodness there are valiant people like my friend who can do it.

Aint that true....

[KristinDaBomb]

Wow that is scary. I hope it doesn't affect your view on Chicago though, it's one of the greatest cities in the world.

[delalluvia]

Wow that is scary. I hope it doesn't affect your view on Chicago though, it's one of the greatest cities in the world.

Thanks.  No it didn't.  Chicago was wonderful. 

[SFEnnisSF]

I never did ask, did you fly back or take the train back?

[delalluvia]

I never did ask, did you fly back or take the train back?

Took the train back and do you know, it seemed a whooooole lot faster getting back?  I swear, I read a book and a magazine and BAM! - it was time to sleep.  Slept, woke up at 8 am, had peanut M&Ms and a water - breakfast of champions - read another book and magazine then BOOM! - we were twenty minutes out from my town.

It didn't feel like I'd been on the train more than 3 hours.

I caused a bit of ruckus at the taxi station, but other than that, it was uneventful coming home.

[SFEnnisSF]

I'm glad to hear your trip back was uneventful.  Did you do sleeper both ways then?

[delalluvia]

I'm glad to hear your trip back was uneventful.  Did you do sleeper both ways then?

Oh, no.  I took the train because I couldn't find a flight I wanted at a good price.  The price of a sleeper cost the same as the airfare I didn't want to pay.

I slept in my chair, grateful that I had no one sitting beside me either going or returning.