Metra train kills another

Metra train kills another. 3rd death in 23 days.here's the link to the article. http://www.nbc5.com/news/2929234/detail.htmlDave

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RE: Metra train kills another, ssw_96, Mar-17-04, 10:28 PM, (1) RE: Metra train kills another, ace6879, Mar-17-04, 11:03 PM, (2) RE: Metra train kills another, adamb, Mar-17-04, 11:57 PM, (3) RE: Metra train kills another, CGW409, Mar-18-04, 06:22 PM, (14) RE: Metra train kills another, MikeF, Mar-21-04, 10:33 AM, (24) RE: Metra train kills another, cn_bayview, Mar-18-04, 00:03 AM, (4) RE: Metra train kills another, yellowdog, Mar-18-04, 07:48 AM, (5) Sorry Clayton, dhammerman2003, Mar-18-04, 01:54 PM, (9) RE: Metra train kills another, heavyd, Mar-18-04, 11:17 AM, (6) RE: Metra train kills another, metraRI, Mar-18-04, 11:32 AM, (7) RE: Metra train kills another, chucksc, Mar-18-04, 12:37 PM, (8) RE: Metra train kills another, FURX, Mar-18-04, 02:54 PM, (10) RE: Metra train kills another, AEM7AC 920, Mar-19-04, 10:57 AM, (18) Metra launches Safety Campaign, bnsf1959, Mar-18-04, 03:10 PM, (11) RE: Metra launches Safety Campaign, NW 1218, Mar-18-04, 05:09 PM, (12) RE: Metra launches Safety Campaign, dhammerman2003, Mar-18-04, 06:14 PM, (13) RE: Metra launches Safety Campaign, bradhig, Mar-18-04, 07:11 PM, (15) RE: Metra launches Safety Campaign, BNSF4999, Mar-18-04, 07:53 PM, (16) RE: Metra launches Safety Campaign, bnsf1959, Mar-19-04, 03:49 AM, (17) RE: Metra launches Safety Campaign, bradhig, Mar-19-04, 10:12 PM, (19) RE: Metra launches Safety Campaign, dhammerman2003, Mar-19-04, 11:16 PM, (20) RE: Metra launches Safety Campaign, oakwaysd60, Mar-20-04, 08:42 AM, (21) RE: Metra launches Safety Campaign, cnw8717, Mar-20-04, 01:55 PM, (22) RE: Metra launches Safety Campaign, bradhig, Mar-20-04, 07:50 PM, (23) RE: Metra train kills another, MikeF, Mar-21-04, 10:56 AM, (25) RE: Metra train kills another, CGW409, Mar-21-04, 12:15 PM, (26)

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Sad story indeed. She was a pretty looking girl. Now I wonder who the blame will be put on, the school or the UP. I say the UP will catch it for this even though the fence is a joint responsibility.

The best railroad there ever was

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LAST EDITED ON Mar-17-04 AT 11:04 PM (EST)

Even sadder yet, The hogger of the river grove accident is a close friend of mine....because the kids family is pushing the media, and has money, he may lose his job. With the girl, The UP WILL get a huge lawsuit out of this one even with her negligence. No matter what...even though the girl was an idiot. I like the one comment "THE XXXX NEEDS TO PUT UP A MECHANICAL DETERENT"...blah blah blah.....LIke Mr. Scott says, no matter how easy you make the plumbing, someone will still be as easily able to plug up the pipes.YOU can't idiot proof idiots!LAter!

Kelley D. Ellison
CSX A-Line Chief lighting engineer
NALW Lighting engineer

Dekosoft Lighting engineer

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So true Kelly, so true Darwins theory of evloution in action...CheersAdam

AdamB
Crush the Dash 9's, Give me a Dash 2 Anyday!
Lighten up, eh? Enjoy the game, enjoy the community!
EMD & SP Junkie!
www.fordpix.fotopic.net

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Kelly
Unfortunately that area has really bad for years,the dirty little secret is UP/Metra have fenced the area along that section of track since at least 88(I used to date a gal that lived in Villa Park)and even had all sorts of warning signs at and around the Ardmore Av. crossing since that time when somebodys lil darlings stepped out on the tracks to walk around the end of a passing freight and didn't notice the oncoming TOFC and splatted them.
So they did have the "mechanical deterent" according to todays Trib repaired with in the last 2-3 weeks but in that time somebody tore it down again and yet again someone is killed at that stretch of track.
UP/Metra's fault 0 %
Villa Park's/School Dist's fault 0%
The mope who last tore the fence down 5%
The girl who tresspassed or in the very least didn't bother to look 95%Gary S

42 year old future curmudgen(Hey you kids get offa my lawn!!)

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<snip>
>LIke Mr. Scott says, no matter how easy you make the
>plumbing, someone will still be as easily able to plug up
>the pipes.
>I think the quote is more, "Here you are doctor, from one surgeon to another. The more they overhaul the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the works.">YOU can't idiot proof idiots!
>Amen to that.

Mike F

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Oh of course it's UP's fault!Couldn't be the girls...Even if there is a hole in the fence, that doesn't mean she should have been using it.If I was UP, I'd hit the girls family back with a trespassing lawsuit. Maybe that sounds pretty cold... But I've had enough of people shifting the blame onto the railroad.

Rob

TH&B Van #68
www.greatlakesrail.com

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LAST EDITED ON Mar-18-04 AT 07:52 AM (EST)

Couldn't agree more. I hate that this thread is named "Metra train kills another." I didn't read the article yet, but unless the train came off the tracks on purpose and was chasing people through town like Godzilla, it's hard to say that it "killed" somebody. There should be at least some sort of mutual responsibility. It's a tragic loss for a family, but also (as Kelley alluded to), there were more people involved than just the deceased and her family. The crew may have nightmares for a long time regardless of what sort of "punishment" they get. EDIT: Yeah, re-reading that thread title just reminded me of the Ohio shootings that have been in the news recently, or the DC snipers. Those news articles would have been named similarly. . .

Clayton

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Sorry Clayton,I couldn't think of another way of putting it.Dave

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Hey guys, you know what? I am sick and tired of hearing about how it is always the railroads fault or the engineers. These stupid, stupid people who want to walk on the tracks and ignore the trains, HELLO - smarten up! I can't believe and it makes me sick of how now the blame is on UP or the school! If that fence was in perfect condition and she climbed over it then it would still be their fault "because the fence wasn't high enough" or something. Things have to change, freakin' parents have to stop pointing fingers and just admit their kid was stupid and they didn't raise them properly with some common sense! That girl did a stupid, stupid thing and I don't feel one damb bit sorry for her! I may sound harsh, but if my kid was killed like that it would be traggic aswell but I would admitt flat out my kid was in the wrong because she WAS, not the railroad or the school! I think UP/Metra should engage in a lawsuit against the family of that girl for interupting traffic flow, or councilling cost to the train crew, including lost wages because they were tramatized, how about the family pay for that!!!

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LAST EDITED ON Mar-18-04 AT 11:38 AM (EST)

According to ABC 7, the family said they do not have anything against Metra or the school, and there was no mention of any lawsuit on the news.

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What they don't have predatory ambulance chasers in Chicago?
Give that a while and I guarantee that one of them will convince the family to sue some one (Primarily so said attorney can collect his 33%)"First we'll hang all the lawyers!"
Wm. Shakespere
Chuck Schneider
Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and (Virtual) CEO

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You don't run across a highway, (unless it's I-495 during rushhour, when all the cars are standing still...)so why do you runn across the train tracks?And even if you do (don't)STOP LOOK & LISTENSTEP OVER THE RAILS, STAY WALKING ACROSS THE TIE, NOT BETWEEN THEM!I don't understand it, these people....<sighs>-Jeffrey

Courteous Future Engineer
NKP 2-8-4 #765. www.765.org
Chessie System Historical Society. http://moosevalley.org/cshs/

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I'm with you 100% it isn't the engineer's fault it's not like he is driving a car and can turn out of the way or just stop i mean it's not hard to hear a trains's horn not inless you have music blasting in your ears. Now 1st off the fence should of been fixed. If the family wants someone to sue go at the railroad or school or who ever owns the property. Now for the family I think they knew ther daughter was walking close to the tracks they should of CUT THAT OUT when they knew, It's not like they haven't herd stories before about people being killed on or close to the tracks because they were near them. Lastly I think they need to show some sympathy to the engineer because there was not a dam thing in the world he could do people act like engineer's are killers and kill people because they like to read the article he put the train into emergencey and blew the horn so be reasonable he couldn't do anymore.

AEM7AC 920
How do you like your toast?

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Metra has launched a safety campaign for schools near railroad crossing and tracks. See the link here; http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/031804_ns_metra.html and http://metrarail.com/Special_Promotions/train-safety.htmlKen Plaza

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I feel so sorry for Metra. The school blames UP and UP blames the school. It's the schools fault for not fixing the fence. In the Oak Lawn incident, the girl was wearing headphones and couldn't hear any of the warnings that were being thrown at her. Her brothers and sisters called for her but she couldn't hear them. Her Parents even told her that if she kept doing what she was doing, something bad would happen, and guess what? It did! In the River Grove incident, it's the mothers fault. She couldn't control her kid. When you can't even control your own kid, there is a problem. I also have been to River Grove and have seen how the station is constructed. There is no way that the kid couldn't have seen the train or heard it for that matter. Kelley, my thoughts go out to the River Grove engineer and his family. A train can't stop on a dime. People have to learn to understand that. I was even talking to a guy who was divorced and had a 10-year-old son. He wasnt even a railfan and he thought it was the mothers fault for the River Grove accident.

John Means
MASW Founder and President
The MASW site is www.freewebs.com/klwtrainsim

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JOC, what was the River Grove incident? I still remember the Cary/Fox River Grove incident.Dave

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mabye they need to put stop look and listen on the crossbucks like they used to and by the tracks as well.

ridin the PCC Streetcars. Biggest mistakes in St. Louis history, getting rid of the streetcars and closing union station to trains.

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John-
dude amen to how you put it!!! I know it sounds cold but guys, its not metra's fault people are stupid! When will people realize that they will not win if they fight a train? I mean its like 140lbs vs 200,000 (at the lower end!). come on folks.
I am currently in the proccess of a collaborative letter effort being sent to chicago area newspapers since they seem to enjoy bashing metra. I dont know if anyone will publish it or not, but I hope they do.
Its focus is to educate people and not basch the kids and their families although for the final time they ALL DESERVED IT.
like previously stated its called social darwinism. you walk in front of a train, you get what you deserve.
call me cold and mean, i dont care, kids are dumb, have no respect for the power of the railroad, and they need to wake up and learn that theres a reason why fences and other deterrent devices are put up. Theyre there for a reason, not cus they look nice.Kevin V.
-President/CEO of Illinois Northern Ry Inc, subsidiary of The Midwest Regional Railways Corp.

Ohio Southern is on the way...coming late March!!

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I know what you're talking about. I remembered that as well. They blamed either the bus driver, the crossing, or both.Ken Plaza

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Are you talking about the accident in which a Metra train hit the back of a school bus sticking over the tracks and knocked it off the frame?

ridin the PCC Streetcars. Biggest mistakes in St. Louis history, getting rid of the streetcars and closing union station to trains.

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if that's the case then I know it because my teacher was a half-hour late because of it. Not to mention the fact that I went to some of the kids funeral. How tragic and sad.Dave

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I get disgusted when i hear things like this happen to railroads. The people try to push blame on the railroad, but its not their fault. I dont know how someone couldnt hear a K5LA. I live 2 miles from the tracks, and hearing the beautiful horns gets annoying somtimes at night when i need to go to bed since they're so loud. Second, most cases are beacuse the person was trespassing, and thats a crime right there, even if they wernt hit. Third, these people need to get some sence knoked into them. Like, never cross the tracks when theres a gate in the way.
When it comes down to it, im always on the railroads side because its not their fault it happened. I know the engineers dont like it because i remember hearing a story of a person who broke through the gate and was hit bit a train. The train stopped a mile down, and the engineer was crying on the side of his engine. So you can tell that they dont like it happening. I remember another where a babysitter took the kids she was watching for a walk on some very busy tracks. They were hoping if a train came they would hear it. So a train came up behind them with horn in full blast. One survived with no injries, one lost their legs, and and was hit by the handrail and thrown 45 feet and died. They filed a lawsuit for not blowing the horn to warn them. The sitter should have been arestted for tresspassing. I dont know what happened after that. Ill admit it, its pretty sad. But its always the person who was injured's fault.Central Illinois Locomotive Works
DD35A-B are in beta.
Currently Being worked on:
SD45X
Metra Gallery Cars 90% Done
EMD Rules!

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Just to see if you cant hear Horns over headphones. I could still hear the Train Horn with my headphones on playing music loudly. SO I believe people will only learn to stop trying to beat trains when they are dead.cnw8717

Brock Hansen President/CEO of Illinois Rail Link Inc, subsidiary of The Midwest Regional Railways Corp.
IRL Route is coming along nicely 70% done.

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Over in Granite City they were testing a barrier net that supposely stops cars from racing across the tracks when the gates are down. I don't know if they still have it but it was on the news a few years ago and they said it was too costly at the monment to install them at all busy crossings.

ridin the PCC Streetcars. Biggest mistakes in St. Louis history, getting rid of the streetcars and closing union station to trains.

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Ok folks, I *know* I'm going to catch a lot of flak here, but bear with me for a minute.No, she should not have been trespassing, I agree with that. But railroads are *dangerous* places and the average John Q. Public should be protected *some* from such a danger. Electric companies have to put fencing around their towers and removing the ladder rungs to keep people from climbing HV towers. Similar with many other hazards in the community.That being said, the fence is a safety device used to help protect the public. Unfortunately, fences also are obstructions and inconvenient to walk around (a block? three blocks? two miles?).So if folks knew of this hole in the fence, and have had to repair it often, why wasn't an alternative provided? Maybe the RR and/or school should have considered that kids were doing this because they didn't know the dangers? When's the last time the school had Operation Lifesaver come in to educate kids of the dangers? Maybe the RR and/or school could have provided a safer way for kids to walk to/from school?RR management, the school, the parents. All knew of some pieces of this tragedy. They will have to live with the idea that maybe they didn't do enough to prevent it.But the one person who did *not* do anything wrong is the engineer/crew. If he refused to run or slowed a lot because of the kids, he/they would just lose their jobs and be replaced by someone else.Unfortunately, the girl is dead and the crew will have to deal with being the ones that witnessed it. They weren't at fault, but they were there.Just saying the RR is *not* at fault is ignoring the possibility that something *could* have been done to prevent it. An overhead cross walk, better signage or fencing, a pathway provided outside the fence, more education of the dangers, whatever.

Mike F

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Mike
Actually the area around Ardmore Ave is fairly open in regards to legal crossings and there isn't a horendous distance to walk.
CNW/Metra(now UP/Metra)have been dealing with this area for years(see my previous post)in concert with the school and the village of Villa Park,the fence is "officialy" checked every couple months but is spot checked by both village and railroad personnel, this was simply a case of a kid taking a shortcut that turned tragic.Gary S

42 year old future curmudgen(Hey you kids get offa my lawn!!)

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