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Re: Would A Simple SwitchStand With A Target Have Prevented The Fatal Amtrak Head-On In Cayce, SC?
Author: BOB2
Date: 08-06-2019 - 08:50
That's one good reason to have them, so we can "see" from a distance, if the switch is lined properly.
I am not sure of the details here on the switch stand in question, though. I guess the first thing to do is go back and see what kind of ML switch indicator or target might have been present. I don't recall that detail from the discussions or the parts of the report posted on AP.
The distance at which the Amtrak train would have seen a target showing the misaligned mainline switch, and how much that "extra" warning would have matter at the speed at which they were traveling at, would have to be determined.
The main problem, of course, is that with the signal system "intentionally" turned off, disabling any detection of the misaligned switch, they were "authorized" by the "rules" in effect at the time, to go on operating a passenger train at an operating speed much higher than "restricted" speed, and, as a result, were unable to safely stop in time.
Whereas, ironically, and completely illogically, if the signal system had "failed" and not been "intentionally disabled" (for the work they were doing on them), the passenger train (or any other train) would have been required by the rules, to operate at "restricted speed", and would have easily been able to stop the train in time.
And now, after this tragedy, we don't do that anymore.
As to the target being an indicator to the freight crew, if it were not so equipped, and reminder that they might have observed, that they had failed to line back the switch.... and "corrected" that human error... in time to prevent this accident?
I am a "layers of safety redundancy" kind of guy myself, who likes that kind of approach, and it is what many of the rules and operating procedures are based upon. And, if there was no target, my view would be, that perhaps that could have served as a reminder...
Did it have a target, or not, showing it was lined for the siding? If no, then, it might well have been able to remind the conductor and engineer that they had left the mainline switch misaligned, and have prevented this tragedy.
I am not sure of the details here on the switch stand in question, though. I guess the first thing to do is go back and see what kind of ML switch indicator or target might have been present. I don't recall that detail from the discussions or the parts of the report posted on AP.
The distance at which the Amtrak train would have seen a target showing the misaligned mainline switch, and how much that "extra" warning would have matter at the speed at which they were traveling at, would have to be determined.
The main problem, of course, is that with the signal system "intentionally" turned off, disabling any detection of the misaligned switch, they were "authorized" by the "rules" in effect at the time, to go on operating a passenger train at an operating speed much higher than "restricted" speed, and, as a result, were unable to safely stop in time.
Whereas, ironically, and completely illogically, if the signal system had "failed" and not been "intentionally disabled" (for the work they were doing on them), the passenger train (or any other train) would have been required by the rules, to operate at "restricted speed", and would have easily been able to stop the train in time.
And now, after this tragedy, we don't do that anymore.
As to the target being an indicator to the freight crew, if it were not so equipped, and reminder that they might have observed, that they had failed to line back the switch.... and "corrected" that human error... in time to prevent this accident?
I am a "layers of safety redundancy" kind of guy myself, who likes that kind of approach, and it is what many of the rules and operating procedures are based upon. And, if there was no target, my view would be, that perhaps that could have served as a reminder...
Did it have a target, or not, showing it was lined for the siding? If no, then, it might well have been able to remind the conductor and engineer that they had left the mainline switch misaligned, and have prevented this tragedy.
