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The Chase Train Collision
🕑 Added 2023-10-17 10:15:00 +0000 UTCIn this video, I mention that one of the cars making up the Colonial was older than the others. This was, in fact, a “heritage” car – something that was a feature of some Amtrak train services until as recently as 2019.
Amtrak’s heritage fleet consisted of cars that it inherited when it took over passenger rail service from commercial railroads in the 1970s. It selected the best, most up-to-date rolling stock and used that on its network.
Because its stock had come from a multitude of different private railways, the cars generally didn’t match. For that reason the period after its formation is sometimes referred to as Amtrak’s “rainbow era”.
Soon enough, though, Amtrak began purchasing more uniform rail cars – like the Amfleets mentioned in the video. Heritage cars were updated with electrical heating and power, and often used as dining or baggage cars in trains that were otherwise totally modern.
The very last heritage car to go was a ex-Great Northern Railway dome car, which was retired just a few years ago in 2019.
Comments
Fascinating Horror
In terms of what actually lead to the disaster, this has to be one of the most straightforward root causes. Very different from some accidents I've covered!
Fascinating Horror
It is a surprisingly short sentence, given how directly his actions precipitated the disaster. But, at least, it seems like he's made something of the second chance he's been given
Sarah Clement
Watching this one really made me appreciate how many disasters are the result of a combination of systemic failures. Usually we see companies cutting corners to save money but this time it was just straight up DUI.
I’m glad the guy got a second chance at his life, as so many didn’t! Four years is a paltry sentence considering he took 16 lives. I also find it amazing that at that speed, only 16 lives were lost. Thank God they filled it back to front. If I were one of the victims family members, I probably wouldn’t be “amazed” at his recovery.
