UP criticized for crossing accidents and false reportin

Pretty big article in today's Omaha World Herald about accidents involving UP trains and cover-ups to shift liability away from the railroad......http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=46&u_sid=1145498

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RE: UP criticized for crossing accidents and false repo, chucksc, Jul-12-04, 11:20 PM, (1) RE: UP criticized for crossing accidents and false repo, runaway_b_unit, Jul-12-04, 11:35 PM, (2) RE: UP criticized for crossing accidents and false repo, erniep, Jul-13-04, 00:12 AM, (3) RE: UP criticized for crossing accidents and false repo, SVTS, Jul-13-04, 06:54 AM, (4) RE: UP criticized for crossing accidents and false repo, erniep, Jul-13-04, 07:50 AM, (5) RE: UP criticized for crossing accidents and false repo, DJShepley, Jul-13-04, 10:25 AM, (6) RE: UP criticized for crossing accidents and false repo, bnsfrr, Jul-13-04, 10:59 AM, (7) RE: UP criticized for crossing accidents and false repo, runaway_b_unit, Jul-13-04, 11:10 AM, (8) RE: UP criticized for crossing accidents and false repo, highball5, Jul-13-04, 05:42 PM, (9) RE: UP criticized for crossing accidents and false repo, Gixxer86g, Jul-14-04, 05:24 AM, (10)

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LAST EDITED ON Jul-12-04 AT 11:21 PM (EST)

If any of that is true and not just some reporter inventing "stuff" because it is a slow newsday then UP has serious legal problems rolling their way! FWIW, the courts take a very dim view of monkeying with the evidence....Chuck Schneider
Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and (Virtual) CEO

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Not only is this probably more mass media b.s. that they're pulling, but it's also probably copied from the article in this post.....www.train-sim.com/dcforum/DCForumID1/8802.htmlAlways looking for some b.s. to scare or anger the public.

C h r i s

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I don't doubt it for a minute, especially since the CNR was charged with endangering their employee's lives, amongst other things to do with neglect of maintenance. It looks to me that they are so consumed with profits at all costs, whatever gets in the way is immaterial. Cheers,
Ernie

Don't take life too seriously, just remember what not to do next time around.

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It looks as though some of the report is media hype, but I also would not be surprised if any of this is true. We would all like to think that our beloved railroads do everything they can to prevent accidents, but the operators are only human. It is always possible that they could sound the horn too late, or not at all, but as most of us who have been out railfanning have seen, the motorist often take thier chances.Good article, but it doesn't chance my opinion of UP. I view 90% of the article as media hype.Chris Bogley
Syracuse New York
www.msnusers.com/AshleyPhotography
www.msnusers.com/cnytrains3rd Shift Production, Krispy Kreme, Syracuse NY.
Making the countries best doughnuts, 1 dozen at a time, with tender loving care, and plastic gloves.

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Usually Chris I think the media goes under the assumption that truth is for a time past and secondary to "selling newspapers". I normally for the most part take them with a grain of salt, especially about the railways, but once in a while they actually hit on something. (once in a long while, that is! )
cheers,
Ernie

Don't take life too seriously, just remember what not to do next time around.

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LAST EDITED ON Jul-13-04 AT 10:28 AM (EST)

Having spent 44 year in the railroad industry in train and mechanical department service I have seen many grade crossing accidents and derailments and participated in investigations. The veracity of the subject accident and the alledged conduct of the Union Pacific come as NO surprise the this writer! I find it even more interesting that a person(s) who has never spent a day in the industry can be so sure that the article is media hype!

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National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" interviewed the reporter who wrote the Times article. He did have valid points, while still addresses the other side, i.e. stupid people attempting to beat trains. We need to remove ourselves from our bias as rail fans and consider railroads may possible be a fault at times. I don't see a problem with drawing public attention to the issue in order to support more investigations into prevent deaths, and I'm sure engineers would appreciate a decrease in that area as well.

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I would probably expect the railroad to make these "mistakes", but several things about this bother me. The article seems to only go after the UP, and they're only making examples of the cases where the railroad !!!!MAY!!!! be at fault. To me it appears that some of these cases are faulty. For example, I wonder if the hiway dept would be partly responsible for an overgrown crossing. I would also expect a crossing signal, just like any other machine, to suddenly brake down. Drivers should always make sure it is safe to cross.

C h r i s

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Here's a link to UP's official response at the UPRR website. http://www.uprr.com/newsinfo/media_response.shtml

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LAST EDITED ON Jul-14-04 AT 05:26 AM (EST)

I only spent three years in the NYSW signal dept.That wouldn't happen in that department.But then again the State of NJ paid for almost all of my time,and most of the equipment.Every crossing was inspected at least once a month.If we had to replace a broken gate,we would do a quick check of the crossing even if it was inspected.I can't speak for any other signal dept though.Nor can I speak for other departments on the NYSW.

"Hold tight,feel the drivers bite,hear the whistle moan.Engine rockin' to the left and right,vibratin' in my bones.Once the locomotive steals your soul,you got a Casey Jones!"---Ian"Lemmy"Kilmister

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