Accident involving Durbin & Greenbrier excursion train

darn that is bad news

I have ridden on their trains a few times, I am trying to think where a crossing would be, it must have been a different route longer trip

Well, that may be the last run for that railroad. That's really bad news. Why do they call human error or stupidity an accident?

OK, from the American Heritage Dictionary:

accident: a. An unexpected and undesirable event, especially one resulting in damage or harm

Has nothing to do with cause, just an objective term.

The location would be at Cheat Bridge, a few miles from Durbin,wv.  wboy and wdtv both have a little more detail on the accident.  Reports say two passenger cars were knocked off the track.  1 dead, around 60 with varying injuries.  The main highway has been closed indefinitely.

Link to story with photos.

WV Central / Durbin & Greenbrier Accident

It is a few hours away from me, I do know the log trucks nearby are usually over weight.

One article says 'the accident happened at the top of Cheat Mountain' which is obviously wrong since the rail line follows the river valley.  Seems it was where US 250 crosses Shavers Fork, near County Road 163.  Crossbucks with lights but no gates.  Very sad situation. 

It most certainly is at the top of Cheat Mountain. The locals will even tell you that.

Go figure - Living and traveling through this area often I can't help but have a shot of this crossing. This is from 2010. This is looking south and the truck you see would have been the same direction of travel.

Thanks for the clear photo, Joey.

Straight, level road.  Flashing lights.  Geez.

Not really, "level". Look in the distance behind that large semi coming at the photographer. It sure looks down grade in the curve, and with a heavy log truck, which was most likely overloaded in that country, the subject log truck was probably REALLY ROLLING.

It is definitely not level and it is a steep grade. The crossing is at the bottom. I do not recall the grade percentage or where signs are situated prior to the crossing. 

I am standing where the river bridge starts in the above shot.

I was there 2 days ago and shot this image from the bridge. This below shot would be if you were the first image and turned to your left to look north. The tracks would be between the bushes and the tree line on the right.

Here is the link to the news story: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013...-kills-1-injures-24/

Definitely a tragedy.

I hope this doesn't seriously affect the RR, insurance-wise and litigation-wise.  That is a great scenic ride.

Andy

I would have to guess the fatality came from the truck, although it didn't say.  The truck driver would have a heavy steel train in front of him and tens of thousands of pounds of squirrely logs behind.  Talk about being between a rock and a hard place.........

Kent in SD

Joey, I took one look at your web site and threw my camera in the trash can.  Very, very nice  work.   tt

At another source, I read the truck driver did die. The area is known for overweight logging trucks, regularly pushing things a bit, and it was a cross buck and lights crossing, no dropping guard rail. 

The story in the link provided by Dave Slie above states that the driver (who was the one who died) apparently made no effort to slow down, which may narrow down the possible cause of this wreck to:

1. He was distracted (texting, talking on the phone, daydreaming, road hypnosis, etc.).
2. He suffered from a medical or substance-induced condition and had either lost consciousness or had died before the impact.
3. He lost his brakes and froze in panic.
4. He did it intentionally due to suicide or road rage or other psychological breakdown.

Andy

1. The truck hit the train.

2. The crossing signals were working.

3. If the train hadn't been there, the accident wouldn't have happened! 

4. Therefore, it's the railroad's fault.

Kent, that's the "logic" I fear if any of the passengers or the family of the truck driver get dollar signs in their eyes and their reason gets clouded by it.

Andy

Randolph County emergency services director Jim Wise ... told AP. "The tracks actually go across U.S. 250 there, right on top of the mountain."

I'm going to have to call that guy and ask him about that statement as it makes no sense.  Rt 250 crosses the mountain, the rail line follows the river, and he must know that.

5.  He was under pressure from the one employing him or some contractor to make as many runs as possible, the law be d*****.

6.  Number 5, but the driver placed himself under pressure to make as much $$$$ as possible.

Neither one of these would explain why the driver failed to see the train or react to the train in his path, unless he thought that he could plow through the train and keep on going like he was in some Hollywood movie.

I don't doubt that he was under pressure to make as many runs as possible or as fast as possible.  I've known enough truckers in my time to know what kind of pressures they are put under.

Andy

I am sitting here in California 3000 miles from home but I live in the area and while I will not speculate now I have a feeling I know the cause.  Like Joey I am in the area riding and/or photographing this train.....log trucks are very common and many have the same traits. 

Very sad incident for sure I hope all can recover including the railroad. 

I used to do a lot of rafting on the Cheat and Tygart, trying to get an idea of the location, anyone have a Google map of the crossing area? I can't seem to locate it but it has been a while since I was thru the area.

Jerry

Kent, with all due respect, in an emergency I surely would want EMTs to know if I am on top of the mountain or down in the valley!

OK, I am done griping.

TSB furloughed.  Don't hold your breath.

Image of the two damage cars after being re-railed.  Photo credit:  Chase Gunnoe

Too bad this had to happen. Just hope the RR survives. A picture I saw on TV looked like the cars were being pulled by and old C&O F-3 OR MAYBE A 7.

Those that have never been to this area may not know we are the most rural area east of the Mississippi. It can take a while to get help anywhere you are. The folks here do a good job but 99.9% of them are volunteers.  

With the announcement that GBT has closed for good this is double bad news.  

The NTSB gets unfurloughed when things like this occure.  They were working the recent CTA runaway accident in spite of the shutdown.

The only delay will be in making the report public.

Rusty

Dave I was not familiar with "GBT CLOSING" so I googled it.

Huh?? There were two VERY LARGE red heavyweight passenger cars ON THE CROSSING! If you don't see those, what good would signals have done?

Very sad.  I rode the New Tygart Flyer to High Falls a few years ago.