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I don't think he would have done that, based on everything I've read about him. This man LOVED trains, he loved being an engineer, it's all he wanted to do since he was a little kid...he took it very seriously. It wasn't just a job to him it was a passion, and I don't think he would have broken the rules deliberately, I just don't.
Unfortunately, that love of the job can be carried just a bit too far; a fair number of railroad buffs (and I was one of them) have discovered that the intense demands and micromanagement common to the job doesn't fit their personality.
It's a job where you have to make dozens of decisions in every shift, usually on short notice. It's virtually impossible to plan much in advance. You can make 1000 correct decisions, but still face heavy censure for one which goes wrong.
Whatever comes to light, Mr. Bostian has shown the presence of mind to co-operate fully with investigators -- unlike the notorious Rick Gates who left the scene, and is universally reviled by most operating railroaders who now face more scrutiny and second-guessing. Unfortunately, some of the headline-grabbers have decided to depict him as the super-"foamer" stereotype whom most of us regard as an insult.
I hope he can display the courage to endure this witch-hunt -- regardless of his actions, or the consequences.
Last edited by 2nd trick op; 05-17-2015 at 08:55 AM..
No need to imagine anything. This is from the train's "black box" recorder.
If that is true then the engineer may not have had time to notice the increase in speed and do anything about it. If he did start trying to slow the train down, he may well have been too busy trying to stop it, to be able to call to someone and report the problem.
Last edited by Cruzincat; 05-17-2015 at 09:47 AM..
Amtrak has operated with one man in the cab for over twenty years, but perhaps that policy needs to be evaluated in the light of how the stresses faced by those employees have been brought to light in a particularly nasty fashion.
Airlines have had requirements for two pilots for a long time now. In the US, they have had a requirement to always have more than one person in the cockpit at all times. As we know, due to the German Wings incident, the same cannot be said about outside the US.
In the NE corridor, the trains likely average more passengers than most airplanes. While the chances of being killed are greater in an airplane crash than in a train derailment, you are still talking about a lot of people being impacted.
I am surprised the union(s) never jumped on this in order to get more members.
Did they say how the projectile hitting the windshield caused the train to derail?
Investigation ongoing. But it shattered the windshield, which could have caused the engineer to lose control. IDK. Stay tuned for further developments.
Do you believe his lawyer advised the engineer to say so?
YES.....!
This is a good defence.....It works...!!!!! This is the "Hillary" defence during Travelgate, Vince Fostergate, Billing records gate, etc....
I don't recollect that Senator...! I have no knowledge of that..! I don't remember that Senator.. That does not sound familiar...! I don't rightly recollect thatSenator...!
Do you believe his lawyer advised the engineer to say so?
Notice the number of University Presidents and professionals who SUDDENLY take "stress leave" when they're found with their pants down or worse? It's a way to buy time, like driving your Bronco with your best friend on a freeway chase followed for miles by media and cops. In that case, it's an insanity defense in the making in case the court case goes bad.
"I don't remember" (De Niro to Jean Reno in the film "Ronen") IT'S THE FIRST THING THEY TEACH YOU.
Back in 2000, I was mugged in a parking lot while walking to my car. I can't recall the blow under my right eye which was landed by three urban savages not yet old enough to drive, but I apparently was already standing and talking with a police officer before my "blackout" ended, and I regained full consciousness and memory.
So I can't discount the possibility that Mr. Bostian unknowingly moved the throttle in the first seconds after a thrown object, (or possibly one dangled from an overpass) hit the cab.
I am surprised the union(s) never jumped on this in order to get more members.
Back in the day, every train had an engineer, and a fireman (who was basically an assistant in the diesel era) a brakeman and a conductor. All the associated railroad unions have fought crew size reductions since the 1960's and have lost. Currently there is an industry attempt to reduce train crew size even more, down to one crew member.
Unless the engineer could prove a mechanical issue. He's ultimately responsible. How could a train sped up on it's own. Why would he sped up even if there was a projectile. Why didn't he hit the brakes instead.
It sounds like to me he had a holly crap moment and messed up but he still need to take some responsibility because people lives are lost.
More people in the US died in one day on a train, then did jumping out of planes.
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Doesn't matter: in the dodo this guys in you'd lie too
