The point is that the automatic brakes should have stopped the train, when the alarm was put out that wheels were on fire. The human alarm was overridden by the fat controllers: the train drivers were told to keep going. This is not a muh Trump deregulation issue, but a greed issue. Stopping a train is sooo inconvenient, as it will cut into profits. Plus, the train crew had the fear of employment loss put into them by the Biden administration. Any disobedience would be seen as strike action, and a subsequent firing. So, a train-driver who is told by his bosses to disregard the wheels that are on fire, must continue, or lose his job.
This sort of thing happens when one takes away the discretion of those working on the ground. Any sensible person would have allowed the automatic emergency brakes to work.
Well, that's the question. According to the guy reporting (not the stand in for Jimmy Dore) yes, the difference in brakes would have kept this from happening. I have no knowledge or expertise in this area and was hoping someone who did might chime in.
But were the brakes a factor in the derailment?
The point is that the automatic brakes should have stopped the train, when the alarm was put out that wheels were on fire. The human alarm was overridden by the fat controllers: the train drivers were told to keep going. This is not a muh Trump deregulation issue, but a greed issue. Stopping a train is sooo inconvenient, as it will cut into profits. Plus, the train crew had the fear of employment loss put into them by the Biden administration. Any disobedience would be seen as strike action, and a subsequent firing. So, a train-driver who is told by his bosses to disregard the wheels that are on fire, must continue, or lose his job.
This sort of thing happens when one takes away the discretion of those working on the ground. Any sensible person would have allowed the automatic emergency brakes to work.
It was a hotbox issue, shown by video of sparks/fire prior to derailment. Not to say that part wasn't planned, but not a breaking issue.
Well, that's the question. According to the guy reporting (not the stand in for Jimmy Dore) yes, the difference in brakes would have kept this from happening. I have no knowledge or expertise in this area and was hoping someone who did might chime in.