Head-on collision in Amarillo, TX

[litz]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/texa ... s-40187697" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/two ... -1-n600426" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.rt.com/usa/348696-freight-t ... panhandle/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tvkQFtcsLo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That is one mangled pile of wreckage.

Details are sketchy, but it appears one of the four crew has been sent to hospital, the other three are still unaccounted for.

[John_Perkowski]

Admin Note:

1) Please don't speculate on the how. The NTSB will report that out in due course.

2) Please do send your thoughts and prayers to the 1 injured crewmember as well as the three not accounted for and their families.

Thank you.

[litz]

Reports are, the one crewmember in hospital jumped before the collision ... the other three are still in there (apparently) ... just horrible.

There are some FB posts of people who work in that area speculating the collision speed could have been at track speed (70mph) on each side, which is just a mind-blowing amount of force involved. That's 140mph combined.

[Bart78]

So sad for all concerned...prayers all around. The BNSF head-on incident in OK a few years back comes to mind with that same fact of one crewmember jumping clear.

[Denver Dude]

Very sad story. It seems hard to believe that something like this could happen with a major railroad in 2016.

[Gilbert B Norman]

The "Voice of Vladimir" linked coverage by Mr. Litz includes an "as it happened" video.

I must respect Col. Perkowski's request of no speculation, but whatever the outcome, the outcry for PTC will be heard in legislative halls about the land.

Funny how the industry "supposedly" got along fine without PTC - until Chatsworth. I'm even starting to "join the camp" myself.

[Backshophoss]

This happened near Panhandle Tx,about 24 miles east of Amarillo.

[BR&P]

Aerial shots show the line is tangent for quite a ways. No doubt they saw each other, but since it's double track assumed the other train was on the other track. Best wishes for the recovery of the survivor and RIP to the deceased .

EDIT: Watching news video from Amarillo Channel 10, it appears to show a train on each track, despite the media's repeated use of the term "head on". Here's a link which - at this time anyway - has a live feed, and when the feed isn't live you can look at various places and see previous reports: http://www.newschannel10.com/story/3232 ... ndle-texas" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; For instance, at 11:39:00 a news segment from earlier in the day comes on.

[JayBee]

Collision happened on North Main (Main 1). Trains involved are Q CHISBD6 27L and S LACLPC1 26K. The uninvolved locomotives seen in the video are from a grade crossing incident a few weeks earlier, and are parked on an industry track south of the South Main.

[MichaelB86]

The "Voice of Vladimir" linked coverage by Mr. Litz includes an "as it happened" video.

I must respect Col. Perkowski's request of no speculation, but whatever the outcome, the outcry for PTC will be heard in legislative halls about the land.

Funny how the industry "supposedly" got along fine without PTC - until Chatsworth. I'm even starting to "join the camp" myself.

So far PTC is minimally expansive and full of bugs. Half the time you get put into a penalty application for approaching a clear signal! A long way to go still, though I do like the system. However it is not perfect. All it really does is stop your train whenever it thinks you're in the wrong place.

[scoostraw]

Some video taken by witnesses as the collision occurred:

http://www.statter911.com/2016/06/28/fi ... dle-texas/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Bart78]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/06/29/th ... crash.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Extensive article that includes info on PTC deployment on BNSF.

[John_Perkowski]

WRT double track:

We are certainly in the era of over-height equipment and loads, as well as over-width loads (I don't know of any over-width revenue equipment).

Has the on-center minimum spacing between tracks changed since the late steam era (1930)???

[SemperFidelis]

Sadly, CNN has reported that 2 bodies have been found amidst the wreckage. 1 crewmember remains missing.

I pray these folks felt no pain and that thier families somehow one day get past this.

[drvmusic]

This is heartbreaking. Praying for all involved

I'm sure there will be speculation and finger-pointing, but I hope the families are spared from that and that the surviving crew member heals in body and mind.