Manager's flow chart for derailments:
Step 1. Blame Engineer
If that doesn't stick, then:
Step 2. Make up a defect
"Back when I was employed by Simply Pathetic, they had restrictions on where loads and empties could be entrained. Problem is, now that it's become Unusually Pathetic, there doesn't seem to be any of those type of restrictions. Last year we had a train go in the ditch East of Phoenix and the Company tried to blame the Hoghead. Said it was "Poor train handling techniques". When it was pointed out to them that there was a rather large number of loaded cement hoppers behind partially loaded pigs (articulated and otherwise) and auto racks, and the tapes showed that the correct amount of air was set, it became "Defective rail". Curiouser and curiouser." (January 1, 2003)
From: [
cs.trains.com]