Hello All,
Hey, we are getting used to the new platform for the show, Blog Talk Radio (BTR). It is going pretty well and there are more things to 'look into' as far as what BTR has available.
This Wednesday, 14 Juanary, 8pm Pacific time, we will try out the BTR Chat room. Yea, we use it during the live show but this will strictly be a Chat. This way EngineerRichsrd can take part in it and actually pay attention.
We are doing this as a result of a suggestion to have such a Chat sometime between shows. Let's see how it goes.
If you want to join in this test, just go HERE and look for the Chat Room button. You can sign on as a Guest if you like but you will not be able to send Chat, you will only be able to read as far as I understand it. You can register an ID and have an ivatar and you should be able to fully participate.
We will let everyone know the outcome of this experiment on this Saturdays show. Same URL will get you to the show. That will be at 10am Pacific time on Saturday. Check it out1
In the meantime, enjoy and 'see' you Wednesday and Saturday.
EngineerRichard
Tuesday, January 13
Friday, January 2
Tomorrow is the day!
Hello!
Well, the time has come, tomorrow we start our journey into Blog Talk Radio for the show. It should be quite interesting.
One concern I have is getting everyone to get 'connected' to the show. I cannot find any definitive answer to how it works but I have been told that there is no way to 'hook into' the feed until exactly 10am Pacific time. So, since this is still an unknown let's just say that the Listen Now link will not take you to the live feed until 10am.
Just remember to listen to the beginning of what you hear and we will talk a lot about which show it is. If you don't hear an identification of the date of the show then I would suggest you go back to the LTT page and click on Listen Now about a minute later.
I have also run into an un-anticipated issue with my cell phone which I sure hope I will get resolved by showtime otherwise it will dirve me crazy in my headphones....to say nothing about driving you crazy too!
So, there we are. Ready to start this trainride with everyone aboard. Enjoy the ride.
All Aboard!!
EngineerRichard
Well, the time has come, tomorrow we start our journey into Blog Talk Radio for the show. It should be quite interesting.
One concern I have is getting everyone to get 'connected' to the show. I cannot find any definitive answer to how it works but I have been told that there is no way to 'hook into' the feed until exactly 10am Pacific time. So, since this is still an unknown let's just say that the Listen Now link will not take you to the live feed until 10am.
Just remember to listen to the beginning of what you hear and we will talk a lot about which show it is. If you don't hear an identification of the date of the show then I would suggest you go back to the LTT page and click on Listen Now about a minute later.
I have also run into an un-anticipated issue with my cell phone which I sure hope I will get resolved by showtime otherwise it will dirve me crazy in my headphones....to say nothing about driving you crazy too!
So, there we are. Ready to start this trainride with everyone aboard. Enjoy the ride.
All Aboard!!
EngineerRichard
Wednesday, December 31
Happy New Year
Hello |All,
Well, here we are at the end of another year. For the LTT show, it has been eventful and we find outselves looking into a new year with a new beginning. The studio where we have been doing out show is gone and we are going to be carrying on in 'new digs' so to speak.
The first show of the new year will be done via Blog Talk Radio and we will be learning how things go with this service. EngineerRichard and Outsource Nicolas will be finding out how things operate while doing a live show.
This new platform is quite different from where the show has been for the last 6 1/2 years so please hang in there with us as we 'carry on'. If you have not already done so, please check out the current LTT Survey by clicking on the link on the web site. We will talk more about this on the show.
There is still one issue we cannot seem to get a real answer to from BTR, so be sure to check back here late Friday for the latest word on joining the live show.
Happy New Year to one and All, and once again, Thanks for listening!
EngineerRichard
Well, here we are at the end of another year. For the LTT show, it has been eventful and we find outselves looking into a new year with a new beginning. The studio where we have been doing out show is gone and we are going to be carrying on in 'new digs' so to speak.
The first show of the new year will be done via Blog Talk Radio and we will be learning how things go with this service. EngineerRichard and Outsource Nicolas will be finding out how things operate while doing a live show.
This new platform is quite different from where the show has been for the last 6 1/2 years so please hang in there with us as we 'carry on'. If you have not already done so, please check out the current LTT Survey by clicking on the link on the web site. We will talk more about this on the show.
There is still one issue we cannot seem to get a real answer to from BTR, so be sure to check back here late Friday for the latest word on joining the live show.
Happy New Year to one and All, and once again, Thanks for listening!
EngineerRichard
Friday, December 26
Lets Talk Trains new era is upon us
Hello All,
OK, the time of change is here. From the way things look, it will be an evolving period.
To begin with, as of now, the show for 3 Jan 2009 will be on Blog Talk Radio. One thing I am not quite clear of is the start time of the feed. For that reason the Listen Now link on the website will not take you to the live show until 10am Pacific time opposed to 9:55am as usual.
Please hang in there with us as we figure 'things' out with BTR. This may not be the final resting place for LTT but we do hope it will provide close to what we are used to with the show for the time being.
One technical note. It would be a really good idea to make sure you have the latest web browser and Flash player (ver. 10) on your PC. If you have both of those you should be able to listen to the show live and participate in the incorporated chat room.
Also, the call in number for the show is posted on the LTT player screen on BTR, Pleae note that it is NOT a toll free number. We are working on something to fix this difference.
This is the latest as of 26 December. I am sure there will be more changes coming and as they come up, this blog will be updated.
All Aboard - for now!!
EngineerRichard
OK, the time of change is here. From the way things look, it will be an evolving period.
To begin with, as of now, the show for 3 Jan 2009 will be on Blog Talk Radio. One thing I am not quite clear of is the start time of the feed. For that reason the Listen Now link on the website will not take you to the live show until 10am Pacific time opposed to 9:55am as usual.
Please hang in there with us as we figure 'things' out with BTR. This may not be the final resting place for LTT but we do hope it will provide close to what we are used to with the show for the time being.
One technical note. It would be a really good idea to make sure you have the latest web browser and Flash player (ver. 10) on your PC. If you have both of those you should be able to listen to the show live and participate in the incorporated chat room.
Also, the call in number for the show is posted on the LTT player screen on BTR, Pleae note that it is NOT a toll free number. We are working on something to fix this difference.
This is the latest as of 26 December. I am sure there will be more changes coming and as they come up, this blog will be updated.
All Aboard - for now!!
EngineerRichard
Friday, November 14
A new day has come!
Hi everyone,
Well, it is a new day in the world of railroading. No, not from the elections here in the United States. The UTU is announcing that the CEO of Amtrak, Alex Kummant, is now out. Gee, is anyone surprised?
As you probably are aware, I am not. However, I did find the article on the UTU website informative. It has information about how Kummant got the job that I was not aware of. Seems the Amtrak Board at the time was looking for an airline industry person to run roost over Amtrak. It seems that there was noone in that catagory that was interested. And the Board actually hired an executive search firm to make it happen!
The article points out that the people who were pushing to get Kummant on board were pretty much financial kingpins to President Bush in his political life. This along with the lack of qualifications of Kummant only served to support the idea that President Bush had Amtrak in his crosshairs for closure.
So, not only are we looking at a new President on the horizon, we are also looking at a new party to rule in Washington, D.C. with the Vice Presidnet elect an avid rider of Amtrak and his son on the Board of Amtrak.
Will all of this help Amtrak? Well, only time will tell. Just as I pointed out two years ago, time will tell. And it has.
I can't wait to hear from The Official Caller Ken on tomorrows show as we gave him an assignment in the last show to come back with a list of what Kummant has acconplished. It should be an interesting list.
In the interim, Amtrak Chief Operating Officer Willian Crosbie will sit at the head of Amtrak. He is in an interesting position to say the least.
Back to time. Time will tell but I certainly hope that the new 'atmosphere' in Washington will flow over to Amtrak and it's operations. It is long overdue.
Oh yea. Don't forget the newly approved finances just approved by Congress for Amtrak. WAIT, think back to our education class. Only the first round of the funding is approved, $13Billion over 5 years. This does NOT mean Amtrak will actually get it. It still needs to be approved by Congress and the President AGAIN, for each years funding. We can only hope.
So, enjoy the new day, it is beatiful, bright, sunny and fresh smelling.
All Aboard!!
EngineerRichard
Well, it is a new day in the world of railroading. No, not from the elections here in the United States. The UTU is announcing that the CEO of Amtrak, Alex Kummant, is now out. Gee, is anyone surprised?
As you probably are aware, I am not. However, I did find the article on the UTU website informative. It has information about how Kummant got the job that I was not aware of. Seems the Amtrak Board at the time was looking for an airline industry person to run roost over Amtrak. It seems that there was noone in that catagory that was interested. And the Board actually hired an executive search firm to make it happen!
The article points out that the people who were pushing to get Kummant on board were pretty much financial kingpins to President Bush in his political life. This along with the lack of qualifications of Kummant only served to support the idea that President Bush had Amtrak in his crosshairs for closure.
So, not only are we looking at a new President on the horizon, we are also looking at a new party to rule in Washington, D.C. with the Vice Presidnet elect an avid rider of Amtrak and his son on the Board of Amtrak.
Will all of this help Amtrak? Well, only time will tell. Just as I pointed out two years ago, time will tell. And it has.
I can't wait to hear from The Official Caller Ken on tomorrows show as we gave him an assignment in the last show to come back with a list of what Kummant has acconplished. It should be an interesting list.
In the interim, Amtrak Chief Operating Officer Willian Crosbie will sit at the head of Amtrak. He is in an interesting position to say the least.
Back to time. Time will tell but I certainly hope that the new 'atmosphere' in Washington will flow over to Amtrak and it's operations. It is long overdue.
Oh yea. Don't forget the newly approved finances just approved by Congress for Amtrak. WAIT, think back to our education class. Only the first round of the funding is approved, $13Billion over 5 years. This does NOT mean Amtrak will actually get it. It still needs to be approved by Congress and the President AGAIN, for each years funding. We can only hope.
So, enjoy the new day, it is beatiful, bright, sunny and fresh smelling.
All Aboard!!
EngineerRichard
Friday, October 17
HOORAY!!! It is all signed, sealed and delivered!
Well, the President of the United States has finally done it. That is he signed the Railroad Safety Act of 2008 as well as the Amtrak Funding Bill of 2008. What more could anyone want? Well, it took long enough for both of those to happen and now we should all feel safer and happy that Amtrak now has money in their future!
Yea, fight! Remember now, this authorization for Amtrak is still dependent on the Congress doing it's part by funding the annual amounts. Remember we talked about this a while back. It all gets the freat YES botes by Congress and the President as a package and then both of those bodies need to take that 5 year bill and re-vote the money to actually be spent each year.
Bottom line, both the Congress and the President have one more chance each to change their mind and reject the actual funding that has been designated. Let's hope for everyone's sake that there is no shift in thinking opposed to this picture.
And the safety bill. There are a lot of rule changes that need to be made effective and here again there is more money available to teh railroads for safety upgrades, the main one being Positive Train Control (PTC). As of this week four of the Class I railroads have agreed on the technology to use for this. Agreement between railroads? What comes next?
The two Class I's that have rail in the greater Los Angeles ares where Metrolink runs its' passenger service, have agreed to be fully PTC functional before the 2015 deadline in this operational area.
So, the sky is blue, Amtrak has money (?) and the railroads are on their way to operating more safely in the future. I guess Santa really is coming!?
I think I better get my 'wish list' updated to reflect all these good things.
Breathe easier!
EngineerRichard
Yea, fight! Remember now, this authorization for Amtrak is still dependent on the Congress doing it's part by funding the annual amounts. Remember we talked about this a while back. It all gets the freat YES botes by Congress and the President as a package and then both of those bodies need to take that 5 year bill and re-vote the money to actually be spent each year.
Bottom line, both the Congress and the President have one more chance each to change their mind and reject the actual funding that has been designated. Let's hope for everyone's sake that there is no shift in thinking opposed to this picture.
And the safety bill. There are a lot of rule changes that need to be made effective and here again there is more money available to teh railroads for safety upgrades, the main one being Positive Train Control (PTC). As of this week four of the Class I railroads have agreed on the technology to use for this. Agreement between railroads? What comes next?
The two Class I's that have rail in the greater Los Angeles ares where Metrolink runs its' passenger service, have agreed to be fully PTC functional before the 2015 deadline in this operational area.
So, the sky is blue, Amtrak has money (?) and the railroads are on their way to operating more safely in the future. I guess Santa really is coming!?
I think I better get my 'wish list' updated to reflect all these good things.
Breathe easier!
EngineerRichard
Wednesday, September 17
Metrolink - Again!
Summary
On Friday, 12 September 2008, Metrolink became the media focus yet again. In Chatsworth, CA, in single track terriroty, in broad daylight with no weather conditions to cause inteferrance, the commuter rail service found itself heading for a Union Pacific (UP) freight train, headon.
Day / Time
This happened on a Friday afternoon with commuters heading home for the weekeend. It was about 4:15pm Pacific time when Metrolink #111 left the Chatsworth station.
Metrolink Train
Metrolink #111 originated from Los Angeles Union Station headed for Moorepark in the far west end of the San Fernando Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles to the north. The train was in double track territory heading railroad west with a switch ahead to take the train into single track territory, through very long tunnels to get to its' destination. Accounts have the passenger load at about 225. The consist was one engine and three passenger cars. The train had one engineer in the engine which was pulling the consist, and there was one Conductor in the cars.
Union Pacific Train
This was a 'local' with an unknown number of cars in the consist. It had two UP engines at the head and a crew of 3. The UP Local freight known as the "Leesdale Turn", (Leesdale is a short siding just east of Oxnard, it originates at the "Gemco" Yard in Van Nuys, CA.) luckily was using SD-70 EMD model locomotives that day, just by chance. Usually, that train is ran with whatever power is at the Gemco Yard, generally SD-40's or smaller switch engines. The well built "Comfort Cab" model protected the UP crew, >and possibly is what saved their lives. From a reliable source, the Engineer is said to have a broken ankle and will have to undergo some type of back surgery. The Brakeman has a knee injury, the Conductor has a broken arm. Of course, they are all banged up with cuts >and bruises.
The Terriroty
The terrority approaching the switch is north-south and the territory the UP was coming from is pretty much east-west. The point of contact for the accident is on the curve of these two directinos coming together. The surrounding area is pretty much desert type with high rocks and brush. Visibility is not good on the curve.
The Metrolink Engineer
This engineer began working for Metrolink in 1996. He was 46 years old. He had been working for 11 1/2hours from his start time and had a break in service mid-day time off period including a 2 hour nap.
What Happened
Basically, the UP train was just traveling along it's way in single track territory heading for a meet with the Metrolink train. They had already been through the tunnels and were within 30 seconds of making the meet at the switch. This train was traveling about 30mph.
The Metrolink left the last station, Chatsworth, and had gained speed to about 55 mph before dropping to about 42mph (heading uphill) at the time of the crash. The train passed two lights without engineer-conductor communications being recorded on the train or dispatchers recordings. The commuter train went through the switch which was set for the main to siding, which the UP train was approaching, to take the siding.
The NTSB has determined that the engineer of the Metrolink train was texting with a teenage railfan just proor to the crash. It has been reported that the teenager has a text message timestamped at 4:22pm, one minute prior to the crash.
In this specific area, visability of oncoming rail traffic from either direction is hindered by the terain, a curve in a cut in the hill.. According to the NTSB report, the Metrolink engineer never put the train in Emergency or had any kind of reaction to any oncoming traffic. The UP train, according to the NTSB, had a 4-5 second time period to react after finally making visual contact with the Metrolink, at which time the train was put into Emergency.
The leading UP engine, the Metrolink engine and the first passenger car behind the engine all ended up on their sides to the outside of the curve of the tracks. There was a fire or two hhat broke out and were quickly extinguished by the fire department upon arrival.
Behind the UP engine, the second engine was upright but not on the tracks. Behind this engine were about 6 or 7 cars accordianed into the second engine. Thr rest of the consist appeared to be upright and on the tracks.
The Metrolink engine bounced back into the first passenger car and those both ended up on their side with very littel visual sighting of the engine from the reporting helicopters views. The remaining two passenger cars were upright and on the tracks about 75 feet behind the first passenger car.
The Metrolink spokesperson came out Saturday, less than 24 hours after the accident, and stated that it was the Metrolink's engineer fault. Monday morning she had resigned her position. Later, David Solo (title unsure, something like Exec. Director) expressed surprise the spokesperson resigned because she did not say anything he did not authourize. The Board Of Directors had said the spokesperson had made a premature statement.
Other Observations
The number of deaths in this crash has been said to be 25, with one news agency saying it is 26. This number includes the engineer of the Metrolink train. It is being reported this number could increase as a result of any of the injured sucomming to their injuries.
Local politicians are now on a rant to make cellphone operations of any kind illegal while operating a train.
One local news agency is now touting the dangers of single track territory being shared by both passenger and freight traffic in the name of 'Did you know what danger exists?'
---------------------------------------
This incident is still unfolding. This blog will be updated as new information is learned. The latest information posted here is as of: 17 Sept 08 1830 Pacific time.
EngineerRichard
On Friday, 12 September 2008, Metrolink became the media focus yet again. In Chatsworth, CA, in single track terriroty, in broad daylight with no weather conditions to cause inteferrance, the commuter rail service found itself heading for a Union Pacific (UP) freight train, headon.
Day / Time
This happened on a Friday afternoon with commuters heading home for the weekeend. It was about 4:15pm Pacific time when Metrolink #111 left the Chatsworth station.
Metrolink Train
Metrolink #111 originated from Los Angeles Union Station headed for Moorepark in the far west end of the San Fernando Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles to the north. The train was in double track territory heading railroad west with a switch ahead to take the train into single track territory, through very long tunnels to get to its' destination. Accounts have the passenger load at about 225. The consist was one engine and three passenger cars. The train had one engineer in the engine which was pulling the consist, and there was one Conductor in the cars.
Union Pacific Train
This was a 'local' with an unknown number of cars in the consist. It had two UP engines at the head and a crew of 3. The UP Local freight known as the "Leesdale Turn", (Leesdale is a short siding just east of Oxnard, it originates at the "Gemco" Yard in Van Nuys, CA.) luckily was using SD-70 EMD model locomotives that day, just by chance. Usually, that train is ran with whatever power is at the Gemco Yard, generally SD-40's or smaller switch engines. The well built "Comfort Cab" model protected the UP crew, >and possibly is what saved their lives. From a reliable source, the Engineer is said to have a broken ankle and will have to undergo some type of back surgery. The Brakeman has a knee injury, the Conductor has a broken arm. Of course, they are all banged up with cuts >and bruises.
The Terriroty
The terrority approaching the switch is north-south and the territory the UP was coming from is pretty much east-west. The point of contact for the accident is on the curve of these two directinos coming together. The surrounding area is pretty much desert type with high rocks and brush. Visibility is not good on the curve.
The Metrolink Engineer
This engineer began working for Metrolink in 1996. He was 46 years old. He had been working for 11 1/2hours from his start time and had a break in service mid-day time off period including a 2 hour nap.
What Happened
Basically, the UP train was just traveling along it's way in single track territory heading for a meet with the Metrolink train. They had already been through the tunnels and were within 30 seconds of making the meet at the switch. This train was traveling about 30mph.
The Metrolink left the last station, Chatsworth, and had gained speed to about 55 mph before dropping to about 42mph (heading uphill) at the time of the crash. The train passed two lights without engineer-conductor communications being recorded on the train or dispatchers recordings. The commuter train went through the switch which was set for the main to siding, which the UP train was approaching, to take the siding.
The NTSB has determined that the engineer of the Metrolink train was texting with a teenage railfan just proor to the crash. It has been reported that the teenager has a text message timestamped at 4:22pm, one minute prior to the crash.
In this specific area, visability of oncoming rail traffic from either direction is hindered by the terain, a curve in a cut in the hill.. According to the NTSB report, the Metrolink engineer never put the train in Emergency or had any kind of reaction to any oncoming traffic. The UP train, according to the NTSB, had a 4-5 second time period to react after finally making visual contact with the Metrolink, at which time the train was put into Emergency.
The leading UP engine, the Metrolink engine and the first passenger car behind the engine all ended up on their sides to the outside of the curve of the tracks. There was a fire or two hhat broke out and were quickly extinguished by the fire department upon arrival.
Behind the UP engine, the second engine was upright but not on the tracks. Behind this engine were about 6 or 7 cars accordianed into the second engine. Thr rest of the consist appeared to be upright and on the tracks.
The Metrolink engine bounced back into the first passenger car and those both ended up on their side with very littel visual sighting of the engine from the reporting helicopters views. The remaining two passenger cars were upright and on the tracks about 75 feet behind the first passenger car.
The Metrolink spokesperson came out Saturday, less than 24 hours after the accident, and stated that it was the Metrolink's engineer fault. Monday morning she had resigned her position. Later, David Solo (title unsure, something like Exec. Director) expressed surprise the spokesperson resigned because she did not say anything he did not authourize. The Board Of Directors had said the spokesperson had made a premature statement.
Other Observations
The number of deaths in this crash has been said to be 25, with one news agency saying it is 26. This number includes the engineer of the Metrolink train. It is being reported this number could increase as a result of any of the injured sucomming to their injuries.
Local politicians are now on a rant to make cellphone operations of any kind illegal while operating a train.
One local news agency is now touting the dangers of single track territory being shared by both passenger and freight traffic in the name of 'Did you know what danger exists?'
---------------------------------------
This incident is still unfolding. This blog will be updated as new information is learned. The latest information posted here is as of: 17 Sept 08 1830 Pacific time.
EngineerRichard
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