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The news report says the train had a "driver" !! Love it-they are so stupid.
Yes trains have drivers, 'engineers' designs things like components in cars and washing machine's etc. Another example of how our language has been shredded your side of the pond. Here's another example of the misuse of our language, 'friendly fire' or my favourite, 'collateral damage'.
Steam engines have "drivers", the big iron wheels tht go round and ound. Since it happened in the US it was an "engineer. Our cars have hoods, not bonnets.
There are certainly more than enough problems with modern journalism, but a reporter not being familiar with railroad-specific jargon isn't one of them. Calling them stupid because of it is more of a comical reflection on railfans and modelers rather than on the reporter. If a journalist was doing a feature article or one in a magazine, I'd expect more thorough background research and attention to such details, but news articles have to be released while they are still NEWS. Let's try not to represent ourselves as a bunch of nerds, who can't see the forest for the trees, or better yet, the rivets.
A good friend of mine was a journalist and news reporter and told me a lot of times they didn't know what was going on but had to get a story out for the news broadcast. Relax- I have had a lot of exposure to news people I don't need advice.
High winds caused a lot of damage in western New York yesterday. Over 125,000 are without power in my county alone. Batavia is in the county to the west and had even higher winds. One report said winds exceeded 100 mph along a wind farm ridge about 30 miles south of Batavia. We have power but have about a dozen large trees down. Other than losing a few roofing shingles, no major damage. Temps are expected to get into the single digits this weekend so many people are dealing with major problems.
Pete
German posted:There are certainly more than enough problems with modern journalism, but a reporter not being familiar with railroad-specific jargon isn't one of them. Calling them stupid because of it is more of a comical reflection on railfans and modelers rather than on the reporter. If a journalist was doing a feature article or one in a magazine, I'd expect more thorough background research and attention to such details, but news articles have to be released while they are still NEWS. Let's try not to represent ourselves as a bunch of nerds, who can't see the forest for the trees, or better yet, the rivets.
I totally disagree! It shouldn't take ANY member of the "news media" all THAT long to get the terms correct for the subject they are reporting on. Regardless of what country, the darned "Conductor" is NOT the person "driving the train"!!!!!!!
No where did it say the conductor was driving the train !
"CSX crews were on scene; only the driver and conductor were on board at the time of the crash and neither were hurt."
clem k posted:No where did it say the conductor was driving the train !
"CSX crews were on scene; only the driver and conductor were on board at the time of the crash and neither were hurt."
Well, there you go. They were probably referring to the BUS DRIVER and the train CONDUCTOR, as the media generally ALWAYS refers to the person that is operating ANY train as "The Conductor".
Wow, I didn't know the article would cause a stir about driver and engineer term. Yes I do know engineer is the correct term. And also he runs the train, if I'm saying this correct?
As for the wind, I live in Northeast Ohio and yesterday's wind was very powerful. Some gusts were 60+MPH. I know they weren't as powerful up in NY State, but for me anyway, if the wind is that much, even though I'm a railfan, I still probably would of not watch trains along the lake shore.
Norton posted:High winds caused a lot of damage in western New York yesterday. Over 125,000 are without power in my county alone. Batavia is in the county to the west and had even higher winds. One report said winds exceeded 100 mph along a wind farm ridge about 30 miles south of Batavia. We have power but have about a dozen large trees down. Other than losing a few roofing shingles, no major damage. Temps are expected to get into the single digits this weekend so many people are dealing with major problems.
Pete
Norton, Glad you made it through without too much damage. I do remember what it was like with temps dipping down into the single digits, not fun, not fun at all. I feel for those without heat or power. stay safe and warm!
Holy cow ... wind coming across open water. What a mess.
Luckily, it was only a "canned corn" spill. lol
The Silly argument of the day.
"Neither were hurt." Neither is a singular noun, so Limey is correct that the journalist does not know English.
tstark posted:The Silly argument of the day.
The day is young. 
Anyway .... that must have been quite a gust! I guess container trains and hurricane force winds may not play well together.
Limey , engineer is a hold over from steam days when locomotive ( drivers) had to hold an operating engineers certificate that qualified them to operate a high pressure boiler. just as today we have operating engineers in power plants and buildings that hold these certifications. Rick
>>Steam engines have "drivers", the big iron wheels that go round and round...
Just for clarification and another nitpick... the "drivers" are made of STEEL, not iron.
Reminds me of "how many things are wrong in this picture?" 
Just east of Port Clinton, OH they leave a long line of loaded coal cars on the NS mainline as it goes over the Sandusky Bay when we get heavy westerly winds. They have had cars blow off the tracks before.
I'd be more concerned that it took the fire department 45 minutes to arrive on scene.
Sean
What a badly written, say-nothing, typical local news report.
LINE 2:
"Twelve of the cars derailed, according to the Genesee County Sheriff's Office."
LINE 8:
"The number of rail cars involved in the incident is still being determined."
OK...which is it? Twelve or "We don't know yet."
The rest of this so-called "report" says essentially nothing.
Journalism is dead...
Batavia has a 125 year history of trains flying down the track at over 100 MPH. Flying off the track, not so much.
Bruce
OGR Webmaster posted:What a badly written, say-nothing, typical local news report.
LINE 2:
"Twelve of the cars derailed, according to the Genesee County Sheriff's Office."LINE 8:
"The number of rail cars involved in the incident is still being determined."OK...which is it? Twelve or "We don't know yet."
The rest of this so-called "report" says essentially nothing.
Journalism is dead...
Consider this before criticizing the reporters. The crash site is about 40 miles from the news station whose report linked to above. I would be surprised if reporters were actually sent to the scene. We were experiencing near hurricane force winds for most of day. Roads were blocked by fallen trees and power lines. More likely a local took some pics on their cell and called in the story.
Crews have been called in from all over the state and beyond to help clean up and to restore power. Most who have been affected by the storm could care less about a few rail cars off the tracks.
Pete
Bad week for CSX in Western NY...
I have not found any news reports about it, but on the radio at lunch time they were reporting that someone was struck and killed by a train in Fairport NY, which is just down the CSX mainline from where the Batavia derailment happened.
Bad week for CSX in general...
