Plane hit by train after it crashes in Pacoima

[Chacal]

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/1-hosp ... lmar-lafd/

Imagine explaining this to your insurance company.

[HighBypass]

Can't access the link because I live across the Pond, however I've seen clips elsewhere. One has to wonder what speed the train was travelling at to begin with, was it even in emergency when it hit the Cessna? Pure speculation here and complete lack of knowledge, but these accidents do trigger debates & discussion on forums, such as they are until the investigation results are published. Did the engineer even see the plane and wouldn't the emergency brakes make a different noise - all I heard was the horn going, but nothing to suggest the train was braking. Yes I KNOW physics rules the roost and a speeding train takes a huge distance to stop, just saying.

[trev123]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3BV637wRoA

[HighBypass]

Yeah, I've seen the clips, but I'm still not sure that the Amtrak was on the brakes...

[trev123]

Yes, usually the train comes through with brakes on and pulls up shortly afterwards. This train didn't even appear to be attempting to slow down.

Police who rescued a pilot moments before a locomotive slammed into his plane that crashed on a set of tracks in Pacoima on Sunday said they called for a halt to passing rail traffic.

But the engineer at the helm of Metrolink Train 266 said he wasn’t aware of the aircraft wreckage in front of his speeding train. An investigation was underway focusing on whether Metrolink controllers had been made aware of requests by police to shut down the tracks.

https://www.dailynews.com/2022/01/10/of ... be-closed/

[buzz456]

Would this have changed the outcome? I think not. Further no one seems to mention if this was right after or even on a curve..

[Chacal]

If they can't reach the engineer by radio while he's still a couple miles away, there's not much he can do.

[HighBypass]

.....This train didn't even appear to be attempting to slow down.....But the engineer at the helm of Metrolink Train 266 said he wasn’t aware of the aircraft wreckage in front of his speeding train.

That may explain why it appeared to me that the train wasn't attempting to slow down - not the engineer's fault if he didn't see the wreckage.

.....Further no one seems to mention if this was right after or even on a curve..

Indeed! Which would certainly be a catalyst for the above.

If they can't reach the engineer by radio while he's still a couple miles away, there's not much he can do.

Exactly. Didn't one of the clips mention that the police tried to contact the engineer. I don't know if the police have a specific radio channel or if they have to go via their dispatcher... EDIT - they go via their dispatcher, just read the daily new article.

Gents! I'm not out to blame the engineer for not having the brakes on, no way! As we all know, physics dictates the long stopping distances of heavy objects on the move. Our discussion just highlights many contributing factors outside of the engineer's control. The investigation will find out the truth.

[Chacal]

Anyway my reason for posting this is it's not every day that a plane is hit by a train!

It reminded me of a near-miss I had about 40 years ago in Lewiston ME. I was running errands for a summer camp, driving the camp's truck in a kind of industrial zone, where parking lots were all connected by ramps. I got down a ramp and barely had time to jam on the brakes: there was an elephant in the way. I stopped about 3 feet short of hitting it. Imagine trying to explain that to the insurance company!

Turns out they were setting up a circus in the parking lot and they use elephants as tractors for erecting the big tents. This one wandered away a bit too much.