Amtrak train from D.C. crashes in Philly.

[Matt Short Line H]

According to Yahoo Train 188 Crashed in Philly. Several People are hurt. Train was "going into a turn" was said in article.AP Employee says train jumped off tracks. Police are telling people to stay back and away from tracks.

[Y@]

CNN now reporting that the Amtrak train struck a CSX freight.

[MrRail]

Live footage here http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/loc ... 36331.html

[hoborich]

Looks bad. Could be more than a few people hurt.

[MrRail]

Anyone know the speed and locomotive involved?

[TrainWatcher]

No way he hit a CSX Train. Here's the locomotive, ACS-64 #601.

[GP30M4216]

I think this is Frankford Junction, which is a sweeping curve ("turn") on the NEC. Several freight industrial lines join the NEC here, which explains the freight cars which can be seen. It looks like the locomotive managed to miss several parked tankcars, not sure what they may have had in them. 1 Amfleet car looks to be totally destroyed.

Hoping all passengers and crew are able to recover.

[Ypsi]

5 reported dead so far

http://abcnews.go.com/US/amtrak-train-c ... d=30997124

[hoborich]

At least 5 dead so far, and more than 50 injured. Probably more when they get into all the cars.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/1 ... 70804.html

[Matt Short Line H]

6th person confirmed dead this morning. 8 still critically injured.

[Y@]

CNN themselves said this morning they were wrong when they reported that the Amtrak train may have struck another train, they were going simply off speculation.

[Schteinkuh]

CNN now reporting that the Amtrak train struck a CSX freight.

This is absolutely NOT the case. There is a 50mph speed limit on this curve, and a catenary tower is split in half and the lead unit is in much better condition than the first car, which could indicate that it jackknifed into something after leaving the track. Also, just 4 minutes before this derailment, a nearby SEPTA train was hit by a projectile, and nobody knows whether or not the two incidents are related. NTSB has just recently arrived and is starting their investigation. The event recorder is also just now being examined. We will have to wait for their findings.

Aaand just now seeing Y@s new post. Yeah, news stations tend to do that a lot!!!

[Saturnalia]

Something obviously went wrong going into the curve. Now, the NEC has Cab Signals with an overspeed limiter, so in theory going too fast into this curve should be impossible.

[Schteinkuh]

Pantograph, horn, everything on the roof of that engine is gone.

[CSX_CO]

Something obviously went wrong going into the curve. Now, the NEC has Cab Signals with an overspeed limiter, so in theory going too fast into this curve should be impossible.

The cab signal system that controls speed for temporary and permanent speed restrictions isn't installed at that location. Cab signals would therefore only enforce the speed the signals required. Of course PTC would have, and also takes into account the braking curve required for speed restrictions.

[PerRock]

Something obviously went wrong going into the curve. Now, the NEC has Cab Signals with an overspeed limiter, so in theory going too fast into this curve should be impossible.

True but ACSES isn't installed onto all of the NEC yet. This may have been a section without it.

At this point almost all reports point to speeding, around 100mph in a 50/60mph zone (conflicting reports on the speed limit).

FBI hasn't fully ruled out terrorism but it's highly unlikely they say.

[GP30M4216]

Lots of possibilities to consider - rail or wheel defect, speed, obstruction on the tracks....the eastern-most track also has a diverging switch onto a freight line right before leaning into the curve. I don't know what track the train was operating on, so it may not even be an issue.

The Amfleet that got bisected by the catenary tower is intense. The investigation will proceed and we will know answers.

Thoughts with the families of those who won't come home.

[Matt Short Line H]

Something obviously went wrong going into the curve. Now, the NEC has Cab Signals with an overspeed limiter, so in theory going too fast into this curve should be impossible.

Anyone know the speed and locomotive involved?

CNN now reporting that the Amtrak train struck a CSX freight.

CNN now reporting that the Amtrak train struck a CSX freight.

This is absolutely NOT the case. There is a 50mph speed limit on this curve, and a catenary tower is split in half and the lead unit is in much better condition than the first car, which could indicate that it jackknifed into something after leaving the track. Also, just 4 minutes before this derailment, a nearby SEPTA train was hit by a projectile, and nobody knows whether or not the two incidents are related. NTSB has just recently arrived and is starting their investigation. The event recorder is also just now being examined. We will have to wait for their findings.

Aaand just now seeing Y@s new post. Yeah, news stations tend to do that a lot!!!

200+ injured, 7 dead. Train was going into 50 MPH curve at 107 MPH. Engineer not cooperating. Conductor cooperating. Event recorder found and taken.

[PerRock]

Seeing as the engineer's lawyer was with him, he was probably told not to talk to them.

peter

[heypal6878]

I have been on that train before a few times. Normally the train hits that curve around 50 mph maybe a little higher. I would say if the train was going 102 around that curve two thing may have happen. Going that fast there is a lean. Speed and tracks may have given way. That track sees plenty of rail traffic everyday. Not sure when the tracks were inspected last. Be interesting to see if the engineer was on his cell phone at the time either texting or talking. Sad situation!