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The Washington Post and many other recognized outlets are reporting that a charter trsin had a grade X-ing collision with a heavy truck at Crozet VA some fifteen miles West.of Charlottesville. There were fatalities on the ground, but only minor injuries aboard the train.
Guess who the passengers were on the train? Republican Congress members and families enroute to a "retreat" at The Greenbrier.
Ouch!!!
Even if not Amtrak's fault, just ask the media and it is their fault.
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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Is there still an alternate command post at the Greenbrier set up to house the government in the event of a nuclear war, or has that been disbanded?
palmland Member # 4344
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I watched Senator Rand Paul pontificate about the need to privatize passenger rail and stop funiding Amtrak. Guess he’s been reading about GBN’s Birghtline trip! I can imagine this is the most excitement the little Buckingham Branch RR has ever seen. Too bad, as this could have been a good PR event for Amtrak. One of the wives on the train was talking about what a good time her kids had been having. Supposedly 200 congressmen with families and staff on board.
And in the President’s state of the union he talked about the infrastructure initiative. Other reports said the source of funding was elimination of funding for Amtrak and other transit operations. But it would include money for capital spending projects. This is probably DOA with the Washington gridlock.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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A TV news clip showed that 9800 Metroliner is in the consist. The same clip showed Phase I liveried #145 visibly damaged.
George Harris Member # 2077
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Based on the second picture in this article: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/01/31/train-carrying-lawmakers-to-gop-retreat-involved-in-accident.html The lead truck of the engine is off the rails to the left side. Note that the front of the engine is pretty banged up. The truck hit was a garbage truck. These are really solid things to hit. They are strong due to the need to take force of the compaction, plus if full or near full about the same as hitting a solid lump of that size. The fatality was described as a passenger in the garbage truck. Read that to mean one of the people handling the dump cans into truck operation. Appears that the news media guys don't know any more about garbage collection than they do about railroading.
Since the engine is off the rails, the line will not be opened in a couple of hours due to the need to bring in equipment to get the engine rerailed.
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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quote:Originally posted by Ocala Mike: Is there still an alternate command post at the Greenbrier set up to house the government in the event of a nuclear war, or has that been disbanded?
Googled the answer - closed in 1995. Time flies when you're having fun!
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