When I was a kid, the Milwaukee dumped some tank cars and their unique
branchline combine a few miles from town. We drove out there to the
location, but I wasn't allowed to get too close. Apparently one of the
tanks was leaking asphalt, so RR officials were trying to sell the
product right on the spot. Imagine that today, you would have all kinds
of guys running around with hazmat suits and such! Different times for
sure.
The cream cans in the combine, did tip over and spill all over the
mail. My aunt was a postal clerk--the sour smell from the cream did not
make her happy, but it was a minor problem as the express guy did break
a leg--loaded cream cans being tossed around will do that!
My better half and I were attending a wedding in a small neighboring
town that followed a downgraded SP line. I spotted two engines running
light coming toward us. A couple miles further down the track were a
few cars scattered on the rails, so that derailment had just happened.
I saw some daily accounting on the number of minor incidents and it was
pretty amazing. Of course were talking about 100,000's of car movements
per day.
So perhaps us having 1/64's of the number of derailments is what we
should be aiming for. On the other hand our operators are not
certified/qualified, nor do we have the mass that might help keep things
on the tracks.
This weekend, I guarantee that somebody will be operating his train for
a long time and be lulled into not paying attention or be talking to
somebody, only to have some cars uncouple or derail. This will happen
several times as it has during the past 25 years that I've been involved
in running for the public. We often try and run two trains per mainline
so keeping things running smoothly requires keeping alert--and yes I've
been guilty a time or two!
Bob Werre
Bob Werre
PhotoTraxx
Been in on some of my own that weren't so minor. Also been in on the
aftermath of derails by other crews that was far from minor. I can
still recall the stench of that side dump loaded with dirt n' rotting
poultry... right in the dead of summer. Talk about RIPE.
Andre Ming
----- Original Message -----
*From:* Ed <mailto:[email protected]>
*To:* [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
*Sent:* Monday, June 11, 2012 6:06 PM
*Subject:* Re: {S-Scale List} Flawless Operation
> Flawless operation isn't prototype.
> Andre Ming
Attempting flawless operation is prototypically correct.
"S"miles.....Ed L.
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