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GliderGuider

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23. More on the track incline, union representation and the single-operator issue.

Thu Jul 11, 2013, 03:14 PM

Jul 2013

The track from Nantes to Lac-Megantic has a 1.2 degree grade, which for a train track is quite steep.

The train had only one engineer as permitted under an exemption from Transport Canada. MM&A is apparently one of only two lines granted such an exemption from the two-operator rule. The United Steelworkers represent about 75 MM&A employees, including the engineer in question.

Brakes Cited in Quebec Wreck

MM&A is also facing scrutiny from critics over its policy of using a single engineer on its trains in Canada. MM&A won a special exemption from Canadian authorities to do so—one of just two operators with permission to do so.

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Quebec train set too few brakes, engineer �under police control� [View all] jpak Jul 2013 OP

Such a tragedy... deurbano Jul 2013 #1

"rail operators are given considerable leeway"---the regs remind me of oil & gas industry regs wordpix Jul 2013 #2

what an awful tragedy. LittleGirl Jul 2013 #3

In addition to the loss of life, BlueToTheBone Jul 2013 #4

Oh yeah, it's a goddamn mess. AtheistCrusader Jul 2013 #5

Holy Crap! BlueToTheBone Jul 2013 #7

72 tanker cars. AtheistCrusader Jul 2013 #8

Oh how horrible! BlueToTheBone Jul 2013 #11

I'm guessing some will never be found NickB79 Jul 2013 #41

Scapegoat: Acquired AtheistCrusader Jul 2013 #6

They tried first to pin it on volunteer firemen Thor_MN Jul 2013 #9

indeed. fuck Ed Burkhardt. I stand with Tom Harding cali Jul 2013 #29

Harding may have made a mistake, but AtheistCrusader Jul 2013 #30

yes. and that's if he made a mistake. I stand with Tom Harding. cali Jul 2013 #31

Correct me if I'm wrong... TheBlackAdder Jul 2013 #10

Amen to that! 7962 Jul 2013 #14

1) Apparantly HooptieWagon Jul 2013 #15

The average railcar is 75 feet long, plus hookups. 80 feet x 75 cars = 6,000 feet. Over 1 mile. nt TheBlackAdder Jul 2013 #17

75' too long. 50 or 60 might be about right. And your right, my mental math went south. HooptieWagon Jul 2013 #19

Varies, but most seem to be 60-63 feet long, thus about 2 football fields short of a mile happyslug Jul 2013 #35

For many years... HooptieWagon Jul 2013 #36

As an addition... TheBlackAdder Jul 2013 #16

There are two air pressure systems. HooptieWagon Jul 2013 #20

Were they unionized? Seems to me this would be an issue a union would have plenty to say about. silvershadow Jul 2013 #12

Yes - United Steelworkers. However... GliderGuider Jul 2013 #25

Well, then looks like the union knew best. nt silvershadow Jul 2013 #33

And anyone walking the tracks can release the hand brakes. bahrbearian Jul 2013 #13

That could be. HooptieWagon Jul 2013 #18

Until the engineer admits fault or facts show he is responsible, what the comapny says is pure crap. snagglepuss Jul 2013 #21

EVEN IF he made a mistake the working conditions made it not only possible, but likely. AtheistCrusader Jul 2013 #32

Ok - 1 guy is going to set handbrakes on over 70 cars? ConcernedCanuk Jul 2013 #22

No, only a number of them need to be set. The real issue is... GliderGuider Jul 2013 #24

Shouldn't be a concern of the engineer ConcernedCanuk Jul 2013 #26

I'm pretty sure we'll see some significant regulatory changes as a result of this. nt GliderGuider Jul 2013 #27

(I posted this on another thread) The Proceeding would not have happend in the U.S.A. mrdmk Jul 2013 #38

The train was left on the incline because it was crippled, it was parked there so the snagglepuss Jul 2013 #40

More on the track incline, union representation and the single-operator issue. GliderGuider Jul 2013 #23

Bullshit. This makes me furious. That's the accusation of the vile pig Burkhardt cali Jul 2013 #28

scape goat mtasselin Jul 2013 #34

Oh, FUCK THIS FUCKING BULLSHIT! Brickbat Jul 2013 #37

+100 nt GliderGuider Jul 2013 #39