Latest on Amtrak Crash: Engineer Applied Emergency Brake Seconds Before Derailment

Engineer hit the brake in the last seconds
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The National Transportation Safety Board’s Robert Sumwalt said today at a press conference that the engineer of the Amtrak train that derailed last night in Philadelphia applied the emergency braking system approximately 3 seconds before the crash.

He also said that when the data recorder stopped working, the train was traveling at 106 miles per hour, more than twice the speed limit in that section of track.

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107 comments
1 blueraven  May 13, 2015 3:18:57pm

Looks like this engineer was either distracted or high. The fact that he wouldn’t make a statement to investigators is troublesome.

However, this has nothing to do with the fact that he is gay, or what race he is.
Human beings are fallible.

Obviously there could be some mechanical issue at hand but Occam’s razor and all.

2 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 3:20:19pm

re: #1 blueraven

He did talk to investigators. He didn’t talk to the police.

3 Targetpractice  May 13, 2015 3:22:59pm

I’m still leaning towards operator error, but I would not rule out equipment fault/failure. What I will agree with the NTSB on at the present time is that, with the PTC in place on this line, the odds of such an accident would have reduced enormously. But I’m sure that will be twisted into an indictment of Amtrak by wingnuts wanting to see it shut down in the name of “FREEDUMB!!!”

4 blueraven  May 13, 2015 3:23:48pm

re: #2 Justanotherhuman

He did talk to investigators. He didn’t talk to the police.

I didn’t specify, just read the following statement, but which investigator has he spoken to?

The train’s engineer, who has not been identified, declined to give a statement to police investigators and left the East Detectives Division with an attorney, police commissioner Charles H. Ramsey said Wednesday.

Read more at philly.com

5 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 3:27:21pm

re: #4 blueraven

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter says Amtrak engineer gave a statement to investigators after crash.
end of alert

6 makeitstop  May 13, 2015 3:29:18pm

re: #4 blueraven

I didn’t specify, just read the following statement, but which investigator has he spoken to?

Read more at philly.com

NTSB, most likely. Or Amtrak’s internal investigators.

7 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 3:32:48pm

re: #3 Targetpractice

I’m still leaning towards operator error, but I would not rule out equipment fault/failure. What I will agree with the NTSB on at the present time is that, with the PTC in place on this line, the odds of such an accident would have reduced enormously. But I’m sure that will be twisted into an indictment of Amtrak by wingnuts wanting to see it shut down in the name of “FREEDUMB!!!”

Doesn’t Congress fund Amtrak? What do they expect Amtrak to do, dream up the funds?

fra.dot.gov

8 blueraven  May 13, 2015 3:37:20pm

re: #6 makeitstop

NTSB, most likely. Or Amtrak’s internal investigators.

Well yes, I would think that too. But all I can find is that he has made no statement.

All the reports I have seen said he met with “investigators” with his lawyer but refused to make a statement.

The engineer in control of the Amtrak train that derailed on Tuesday night - killing at least seven people - has declined to give investigators a statement about the crash, it has emerged.

The engineer, who has not yet been identified, took a lawyer with him as he met with investigators on Wednesday but left without giving a statement, Philadelphia police officials said.

- See more at: bostonnewstime.com

9 Jenner7  May 13, 2015 3:44:08pm

This just breaks my heart to no end….

10 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 3:48:12pm

I also don’t blame Bostian for calling his lawyer (or someoe doing so for him), given the circumstances and hysteria of 7 people dead and approx 140 injured.

He may share some of the blame, we don’t know yet, but it’s just a shame that rail in this country is so poorly maintained and we’re so far behind other countries in providing this kind of public tranportation everywhere.

11 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 3:49:26pm

re: #9 Jenner7

[Embedded content]

This just breaks my heart to no end….

Mine, too.

Goddamn it.

12 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 3:51:19pm

The fact that he hit the emergency brake just seconds before the crash is strong evidence that he was either distracted or asleep. The speed limit in the section before the turn was 80mph, so the train was already going way too fast even before the turn.

At this point it looks like operator error was the main cause.

13 Decatur Deb  May 13, 2015 3:51:45pm

re: #10 Justanotherhuman

If you are involved in a fatal accident, you need a lawyer. The lawyer will tell you to shut up. That’s the drill.

14 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 3:57:10pm

ABC first reported the engineer’s name, I think, but not in this report.

“The train’s engineer initially spoke with investigators Tuesday night. He was treated at a hospital and then released and transported to the Philadelphia Police Department. He later declined to provide a formal statement to police and requested a lawyer, which he now has. What he told police or other investigators was not released.

“ABC News can confirm that they were reportedly meeting with federal accident investigators and other rail personnel this afternoon.

“National Transportation Safety Board member Robert Sumwalt said that their go-team have not yet met with the engineer, but they “plan to.”

“This person has gone through a very traumatic event and we want to give him the opportunity to convalesce for a day or so before we interview him,” Sumwalt said.”

abcnews.go.com

15 Bubblehead II  May 13, 2015 3:59:38pm

re: #13 Decatur Deb

If you are involved in a fatal accident with the Police, you need a lawyer. The lawyer will tell you to shut up. That’s the drill.

ftfy

Don’t talk to the police Pt.1

Don’t talk to the Police Pt 2.

16 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 4:00:04pm

re: #13 Decatur Deb

If you are involved in a fatal accident, you need a lawyer. The lawyer will tell you to shut up. That’s the drill.

A good lawyer is your advocate and speaks for you. I worked for PI lawyers for years and you’d be suprised at how many accident reports are badly written up. After the fact, of course. There’s a lot of prejudice at work in those, also.

17 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 4:06:48pm

I know why it’s being served, but ugh, lamb. The rest sounds delicious.

18 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 4:08:11pm
19 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 4:09:07pm

re: #18 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Also, real news sources take the time to verify their information with actual real sources, not random anonymous people on teh twitterz.

20 Kragar  May 13, 2015 4:12:27pm
21 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 4:13:54pm
22 BeachDem  May 13, 2015 4:15:24pm

re: #19 Backwoods_Sleuth

Also, real news sources take the time to verify their information with actual real sources, not random anonymous people on teh twitterz.

And also, who the fuck cares who was first? It’s not like his name was any big fucking clue to anything (other than in upchuck’s fevered brain that he’s “a gay, radical activist who was probably doing meth” or some such bullshit.)

It was interesting (not at all interesting—but repulsive, very repulsive) that once upchuck found out the guy wasn’t black (oh, and wasn’t a conductor) and he’d have to abandon his “unqualified, diversity-hire” line o’crap, he had to switch to his “gay, suicidal, domestic abuse” alternative line o’crap.

23 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 4:16:35pm
24 ObserverArt  May 13, 2015 4:16:54pm

So, little CCJ is fighting over a misspelling.

Well, got to admit, no journalist misspells better.

Freaking pathetic.

25 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 4:17:38pm

creep

26 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 4:19:02pm

re: #24 ObserverArt

So, little CCJ is fighting over a misspelling.

Well, got to admit, no journalist misspells better.

Freaking pathetic.

It not like he ever published a wrong name of a rape victim or published a wrong photo.

oh, wait…

27 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 4:19:08pm

Well, we do know the ID of the engineer, due to ABC.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter says search for more bodies continuing at scene of train derailment - @PhillyInquirer
philly.com

This woman had been reported missing.

Rachel Jacobs, CEO of ApprenNet, died in Amtrak train derailment, family friend says - @NBCPhiladelphia
nbcphiladelphia.com

28 BeachDem  May 13, 2015 4:21:24pm

re: #26 Backwoods_Sleuth

It not like he ever published a wrong name of a rape victim or published a wrong photo.

oh, wait…

Wasn’t his #1 assistant, Shannon, going to publish who she thought might have been the person who trained the engineer or some such nonsense? Yeah, that would have really “informed” the story.

They’re just a bunch of sickening ghouls.

29 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 4:23:40pm

I doubt Chuck has any “naked pictures” of Bostian. He’s lying again.

30 A Cranky One  May 13, 2015 4:24:10pm

re: #23 Charles Johnson

Upchuck can’t even afford a decent camera, much less the macro lens he’d need to photograph his balls.

/

31 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 4:25:20pm

So will Z be allowed to continue stalking people?

George Zimmerman [and his attorneys] met with Lake Mary, Fla., police about shooting that left him with minor injury, attorney says; no arrests made - @orlandosentinel
orlandosentinel.com

32 Bubblehead II  May 13, 2015 4:25:45pm

re: #21 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

33 Higgs Boson's Mate  May 13, 2015 4:27:02pm

re: #25 Backwoods_Sleuth

Should I publish the naked pictures of #BrandonBostian or is that too much?

Ever been to a Turkish prison?

34 A Cranky One  May 13, 2015 4:27:58pm

re: #33 Higgs Boson’s Mate

Ever been to a Turkish prison?

No but I like gladiator movies.

35 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 4:29:38pm

Well, I did scoop ABC. ; /
But just here.

abcnews.go.com

36 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 4:30:33pm
37 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 4:32:15pm

And that was “scoop” was public info on the internet. Nothing I had to dig for, just using teh google.

38 wheat-dogghazi-mailgate  May 13, 2015 4:34:48pm

UpChuck has once again ripped photos from someone’s social media account and slapped his watermark on them, plus he’s added lame captions like “Brandon Bostian standing against a brick wall,” and “Brandon Bostian walking.”

39 blueraven  May 13, 2015 4:38:25pm

Trains should have a 2 man crew up in the cab, just like pilots on an airplane.

40 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 4:41:15pm

Proof Chuck got his info from ABC:

Note that he tweeted the wrong spelling of the engineer’s name (as it was in the now deleted ABC article) AND the name of the town (misspelled by his twitter source, who got the info from ABC).

41 Dave In Austin  May 13, 2015 4:41:28pm
42 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 4:42:55pm
43 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 4:44:50pm
44 Higgs Boson's Mate  May 13, 2015 4:49:02pm

FAA FY 2015 budget request: $9.75bn
Congress’ FY 2015 appropriation to Amtrak: $1.1bn

45 BeachDem  May 13, 2015 4:52:19pm

re: #38 wheat-dogghazi-mailgate

UpChuck has once again ripped photos from someone’s social media account and slapped his watermark on them, plus he’s added lame captions like “Brandon Bostian standing against a brick wall,” and “Brandon Bostian walking.”

Hey, Wheat-dogg, did you ever hear back from Lexis/Nexis about whether upchuck (or whoever he knew who paid for the service, because it most likely isn’t him) violated their TOS when he published the (wrong) addresses for those journalists last week and blamed his idiocy on them?

From what I read, you had to be a paid subscriber to access their info, and you could not publish it online anywhere.

46 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 4:54:36pm

Here we go. He had this excuse ready - he doesn’t have any “dick pics.”

47 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 4:54:49pm
48 GlutenFreeJesus  May 13, 2015 4:58:42pm

re: #29 Charles Johnson

We got the one of Chuck in his shitted-in underwear.

49 ObserverArt  May 13, 2015 4:59:48pm

I think LGF has been following two train wrecks today.

One has been very tragic, sadly.

The other needs to just go away already because he is turning a tragedy into a circus.

50 b.d.  May 13, 2015 5:02:38pm

Because….he would know?

51 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 5:03:20pm

re: #49 ObserverArt

Did you see what I posted downstairs for you? Frost Advisory for tomorrow morning.

52 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 5:05:04pm

Later, Lizards!

Keep calm…

53 A Cranky One  May 13, 2015 5:06:12pm

re: #50 b.d.

Because….he would know?

[Embedded content]

Well sure. After all, all his tweets contain a picture of a real dick.

/

54 Mike Lamb  May 13, 2015 5:06:32pm

re: #43 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

No. He. Didn’t.

55 ObserverArt  May 13, 2015 5:07:53pm

re: #51 Backwoods_Sleuth

Did you see what I posted downstairs for you? Frost Advisory for tomorrow morning.

Yes. I checked locally and they are saying Columbus would be down to 42° or so. Outside the city…all bets are off.

I still remember my father, a great gardener and tomato producer, always said never to plant tender plants before May 15th in Ohio. That was where I grew up in north-central Ohio.

56 WhatEVs  May 13, 2015 5:11:48pm

re: #17 Justanotherhuman

I know why it’s being served, but ugh, lamb. The rest sounds delicious.

[Embedded content]

Lamb is my favorite go to meat. I love love love it!!

57 Skip Intro  May 13, 2015 5:13:19pm

re: #50 b.d.

Because….he would know?

[Embedded content]

Now everybody knows how CCJ spends his days and nights.

58 WhatEVs  May 13, 2015 5:15:18pm

re: #25 Backwoods_Sleuth

creep

[Embedded content]

59 teleskiguy  May 13, 2015 5:17:10pm

UpChuck never ceases to amaze me in his depths that he reaches. Only real murderers are worse human beings than UpChuck, just a festering boil on humanity. Every time I think to myself ‘this fuckin’ guy can’t be more of an asshole’ he’s proves me wrong, time and time again.

*spit*

60 austin_blue  May 13, 2015 5:18:34pm

Evening Lizards!

Interesting:

This particular section, a sharp 4 degree curve from west to northeast, has a history.

en.wikipedia.org

So, yeah, maybe the engineer fucked up, but it could have been a combo of mechanical and whatever:

en.wikipedia.org

If that ending sounds familiar, it should. It was the BOOM of Silver Streak, a very funny movie starring Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor.

61 Targetpractice  May 13, 2015 5:18:45pm

Apparently the only good news of the day is that the train that derailed was a new type designed with special crumple zones that worked as designed in limiting the number of fatalities. Still absolutely horrid what has happened, but it’s somewhat heartening to know it could have been far worse.

62 b.d.  May 13, 2015 5:19:12pm

re: #59 teleskiguy

UpChuck never ceases to amaze me in his depths that he reaches. Only real murderers are worse human beings than UpChuck, just a festering boil on humanity. Every time I think to myself ‘this fuckin’ guy can’t be more of an asshole’ he’s proves me wrong, time and time again.

*spit*

It’s a real insight on the types of folks that the Breitbart’s of the world hire and what they really are.

63 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 5:20:39pm

heh..they just came to him:

64 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 5:21:05pm
65 Targetpractice  May 13, 2015 5:21:40pm

re: #63 Backwoods_Sleuth

heh..they just came to him:

[Embedded content]

Poorly chosen, his words were.

66 austin_blue  May 13, 2015 5:23:33pm

re: #61 Targetpractice

Apparently the only good news of the day is that the train that derailed was a new type designed with special crumple zones that worked as designed in limiting the number of fatalities. Still absolutely horrid what has happened, but it’s somewhat heartening to know it could have been far worse.

Unfortunately, the first carriage hit the stanchion of an overhead iron walkway and got ripped asunder.

All of the fatalities, apparently, were in the that carriage, immediately behind the engine.

67 teleskiguy  May 13, 2015 5:27:47pm

re: #62 b.d.

It’s a real insight on the types of folks that the Breitbart’s of the world hire and what they really are.

UpChuck ain’t the only one, that’s for sure. Shit, we’re connoisseurs of right wing derpitude here at LGF. The guys right around my age, UpChuck, James O’Queef, that silly little man Ben Shapiro, Kevin “execute women who have abortions” Williamson, shrill fuckers like John Nolte, I could go on. Students all of Breitbart’s ‘poison-the-well’ style of discourse.

68 stpaulbear  May 13, 2015 5:27:51pm

re: #63 Backwoods_Sleuth

They came to me.

Of course, the only answer to that is this:

Why Do All These Homosexuals Keep Sucking My Cock?

69 teleskiguy  May 13, 2015 5:29:21pm
70 EPR-radar  May 13, 2015 5:32:30pm

re: #67 teleskiguy

UpChuck ain’t the only one, that’s for sure. Shit, we’re connoisseurs of right wing derpitude here at LGF. The guys right around my age, UpChuck, James O’Queef, that silly little man Ben Shapiro, Kevin “execute women who have abortions” Williamson, shrill fuckers like John Nolte, I could go on. Students all of Breitbart’s ‘poison-the-well’ style of discourse.

This crap is a lot older than Breitbart, although Breitbart did play his part in making it more popular.

IMO, all of this is pretty much inevitable once resentment become the basis of political activity, as it has with the GOP and US conservatism as a whole.

71 teleskiguy  May 13, 2015 5:32:42pm

re: #68 stpaulbear

All-time Onion classic! Published 28 October 1998.

72 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 5:35:45pm
73 lawhawk  May 13, 2015 5:37:14pm

re: #72 Charles Johnson

Well, he also thought that the conductor (no, wait, that’s the engineer) was black, and that really matters.

74 teleskiguy  May 13, 2015 5:39:05pm

re: #70 EPR-radar

This crap is a lot older than Breitbart, although Breitbart did play his part in making it more popular.

IMO, all of this is pretty much inevitable once resentment become the basis of political activity, as it has with the GOP and US conservatism as a whole.

I think the internet and Fox News has upped the ante somewhat when it comes to conservative bad craziness. It used to be that you had to subscribe to Ron Paul newsletters or actually show up to John Birch Society meetings to get those batshit crazy points of view some sunshine. Now all those crazy things the SPLC has been documenting over the years is being pimped by Fox News and one only needs a computer and an internet connection to access things like Stormfront and Free Republic. These horrible points of view are way more accessible now.

75 calochortus  May 13, 2015 5:39:28pm

re: #72 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Freepers are all over this. While a few are pointing out the irrelevance of sexual orientation to driving a train, a lot are convinced that anyone who does unnatural things is inherently unstable.

They’re also making much of the fact that he clerked at Target a decade ago and must be some sort of affirmative action hire. According to our local news here in the Bay Area, he worked for CalTrain (the local commuter train up and down the Peninsula) before he got his current job.

76 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  May 13, 2015 5:39:45pm

re: #73 lawhawk

Well, he also thought that the conductor (no, wait, that’s the engineer) was black, and that really matters.

Because “40%” of Amtrak employees (including porters, janitors, etc.) are black, so “The stats are on my side”.

77 ObserverArt  May 13, 2015 5:39:59pm

re: #71 teleskiguy

All-time Onion classic! Published 28 October 1998.

Reminds me of an even older Onion classic that is right for the season. April 1996.

The Onion - Christ Returns to NBA

78 PhillyPretzel  May 13, 2015 5:40:22pm

Here is another article referring to that awful Amtrak crash. That particular train did not have a control system that is supposed to stop such crashes from happening. And also a mention in the first paragraph that is crashed on one of the sharpest curves in the Northeast corridor.

philly.com

Here is some information on the physics of that sharp curve.

philly.com

79 Higgs Boson's Mate  May 13, 2015 5:40:38pm

re: #72 Charles Johnson

Top Ten States for Meth Labs:
1) Indiana
2) Tennessee
3) Missouri
4) Ohio
5) Illinois
6) Michigan
7) North Carolina
8) Kentucky
9) Oklahoma
10) South Carolina

80 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 5:40:48pm
81 calochortus  May 13, 2015 5:41:31pm

re: #79 Higgs Boson’s Mate

Top Ten States for Math Labs:
1) Indiana
2) Tennessee
3) Missouri
4) Ohio
5) Illinois
6) Michigan
7) North Carolina
8) Kentucky
9) Oklahoma
10) South Carolina

But what about meth labs?
/

82 EPR-radar  May 13, 2015 5:42:12pm

re: #79 Higgs Boson’s Mate

Interesting typo. Top 10 for meth labs is probably close enough to bottom 10 for math labs.

83 A Cranky One  May 13, 2015 5:42:20pm

re: #74 teleskiguy

I think the internet facilitates groupthink.

Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people, in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. Group members try to minimize conflict and reach a consensus decision without critical evaluation of alternative viewpoints, by actively suppressing dissenting viewpoints, and by isolating themselves from outside influences.Wikipedia

The craziness reinforces the craziness.

84 lawhawk  May 13, 2015 5:42:32pm

re: #81 calochortus

New Mexico.

That is all…

85 WhatEVs  May 13, 2015 5:42:37pm

re: #75 calochortus

Freepers are all over this. While a few are pointing out the irrelevance of sexual orientation to driving a train, a lot are convinced that anyone who does unnatural things is inherently unstable.

They’re also making much of the fact that he clerked at Target a decade ago and must be some sort of affirmative action hire. According to our local news here in the Bay Area, he worked for CalTrain (the local commuter train up and down the Peninsula) before he got his current job.

I thought that those minimum wage jobs were supposed to be stepping stones and not life-long gigs because that’s how RWNJs justify that minimum wage iz guuud.

Make up your minds, you lunatics.

86 alpuzzzzz from Wisconsin  May 13, 2015 5:42:56pm

re: #74 teleskiguy

Yep. Lot’s of money to be made pimping this bullshit. I’m always amazed by the amount of low level grifters working the right-wing circuit.

Falling up for the cause I guess.

87 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 5:43:12pm
88 lawhawk  May 13, 2015 5:44:56pm

re: #87 Charles Johnson

89 EPR-radar  May 13, 2015 5:46:46pm

re: #75 calochortus

Freepers are all over this. While a few are pointing out the irrelevance of sexual orientation to driving a train, a lot are convinced that anyone who does unnatural things is inherently unstable.

They’re also making much of the fact that he clerked at Target a decade ago and must be some sort of affirmative action hire. According to our local news here in the Bay Area, he worked for CalTrain (the local commuter train up and down the Peninsula) before he got his current job.

It seems remarkably unlikely that the controls for running a train could be designed in a way that they are easier to operate for straight people than for non-straight people.

90 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 5:47:02pm
91 PhillyPretzel  May 13, 2015 5:49:10pm

re: #90 Charles Johnson

And if he decides to visit Philly to see the crash area I hope that the Philadelphia Police take note of said watch list and give him a little time in the Roundhouse.

92 calochortus  May 13, 2015 5:49:29pm

re: #89 EPR-radar

It seems remarkably unlikely that the controls for running a train could be designed in a way that they are easier to operate for straight people than for non-straight people.

You would think so, but we all know that gay people spend all day, every day thinking perverted thoughts, or actually doing perverted things, so they can’t really concentrate on anything like working. Or something.

93 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  May 13, 2015 5:50:20pm

re: #89 EPR-radar

It seems remarkably unlikely that the controls for running a train could be designed in a way that they are easier to operate for straight people than for non-straight people.

But the opposite is a thing:

94 EPR-radar  May 13, 2015 5:53:23pm

re: #92 calochortus

You would think so, but we all know that gay people spend all day, every day thinking perverted thoughts, or actually doing perverted things, so they can’t really concentrate on anything like working. Or something.

It reminds me of a line I thoroughly enjoyed using at a company holiday party when the subject of ‘boy’s toys’ vs ‘girl’s toys’ came up:

Q: Is the toy operated by one’s genitalia? If yes, it is not a toy for children. If no, there is no basis for calling it a girl’s toy or a boy’s toy.

Alas, I can’t take credit for it, since I read it on the internet (most likely here).

95 Belafon  May 13, 2015 5:54:14pm

re: #75 calochortus

Freepers are all over this. While a few are pointing out the irrelevance of sexual orientation to driving a train, a lot are convinced that anyone who does unnatural things is inherently unstable.

They’re also making much of the fact that he clerked at Target a decade ago and must be some sort of affirmative action hire. According to our local news here in the Bay Area, he worked for CalTrain (the local commuter train up and down the Peninsula) before he got his current job.

There have never, ever, been train crashes before this one.

//

96 Higgs Boson's Mate  May 13, 2015 5:54:59pm

re: #93 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge

The McClean V8 monowheel.

97 EPR-radar  May 13, 2015 5:55:36pm

re: #93 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge

What on earth is that contraption? It looks like all of its failure modes would be both deadly and X-rated.

98 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  May 13, 2015 5:57:22pm

re: #97 EPR-radar

What on earth is that contraption? It looks like all of its failure modes would be both deadly and X-rated.

It’s from South Park.

99 calochortus  May 13, 2015 5:57:44pm

re: #95 Belafon

There have never, ever, been train crashes before this one.

//

Or else there are a lot of gay train operators…
///

100 calochortus  May 13, 2015 5:59:01pm

Dinner calls. BBL.

101 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  May 13, 2015 6:00:12pm

re: #99 calochortus

Or else there are a lot of gay train operators…
///

Too bad somebody couldn’t have fed Chuck the info that Arnold Ziffel was driving the train….

102 Bubblehead II  May 13, 2015 6:09:20pm

Night Lizards.

103 sagehen  May 13, 2015 6:09:38pm

re: #94 EPR-radar

It reminds me of a line I thoroughly enjoyed using at a company holiday party when the subject of ‘boy’s toys’ vs ‘girl’s toys’ came up:

Q: Is the toy operated by one’s genitalia? If yes, it is not a toy for children. If no, there is no basis for calling it a girl’s toy or a boy’s toy.

Alas, I can’t take credit for it, since I read it on the internet (most likely here).

I heard it on Slacktivist…

104 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 6:24:54pm
105 CuriousLurker  May 13, 2015 6:28:46pm

re: #90 Charles Johnson

Based on his name, Abid Gilani, one of the dead is probably Muslim. I wonder if UpChuck will also try to tie in some kind of terrorism/suicidal jihadi angle.

106 BeachDem  May 13, 2015 6:53:44pm

re: #75 calochortus

Freepers are all over this. While a few are pointing out the irrelevance of sexual orientation to driving a train, a lot are convinced that anyone who does unnatural things is inherently unstable.

They’re also making much of the fact that he clerked at Target a decade ago and must be some sort of affirmative action hire. According to our local news here in the Bay Area, he worked for CalTrain (the local commuter train up and down the Peninsula) before he got his current job.

You just can’t win for losing. The guy went to college, worked while in school and has been gainfully employed since, rising in the ranks, and that’s not good enough for the lunatics.

So, I guess all those people who, according to the RWNJs, should only look at McDonalds and WalMart etc. as entry-level, work there while you’re a teenager, jobs should leave them off any future resume, or they’ll be branded as affirmative action hires the rest of their lives? Makes sense (if you are completely off your rocker—oh, wait.)

107 wheat-dogghazi-mailgate  May 13, 2015 7:38:02pm

re: #45 BeachDem

Hey, Wheat-dogg, did you ever hear back from Lexis/Nexis about whether upchuck (or whoever he knew who paid for the service, because it most likely isn’t him) violated their TOS when he published the (wrong) addresses for those journalists last week and blamed his idiocy on them?

From what I read, you had to be a paid subscriber to access their info, and you could not publish it online anywhere.

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