Trapped in a train during storm?

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Regarding the mindset of those in control vs. "the people" in an emergency such as Y2K...

I heard on the "NEWS" this morning that a lot of people were trapped in trains for about 8 hours in the DC/Boston corridor when trees & mud covered the track due to yesterday's storm. The "NEWS" described how people were not allowed to leave the train, although a few folks jumped out the windows and caught cabs.

Who the he## has the authority to keep people on a train like that? More importantly, who gave it to them?

We have discussed Federal deployment of people with guns, and how unwise it is to argue with the wrong end of a gun barrel, but what accounts for people acting like cattle in a train just because it rains hard and blows down some trees?

-- Anonymous99 (Anonymous99@Anonymous99.xxx), September 17, 1999

Answers

Liability. Unfortunate, but with people winning ridiculous law suits against large corporations, everyone is forced to cover their ass no matter how inconvienent it might be. Their fear, someone exiting the train might get hurt and sue. Or pretend to get hurt and sue...

-- kritter (kritter@adelphia.net), September 17, 1999.

I was stranded in a train years and years ago on my way back to West Texas. Near Denton there was a flood, and the train came to a standstill in the middle of nowhere. The track was clear where we were, but there was water on both sides. It was tragic to see poor chickens and animals floating by. We had to wait for the track up ahead to be cleared. Luckily I had two good books with me and finished one of them while stuck on the train.

I don't see this as a control issue. I see it as a safety issue. If someone had broken a leg jumping from the train, I'm sure that "Sue the Bastards" would have been his first thought.

-- gilda (jess@listbot.com), September 17, 1999.


Well, first off, have you tried to exit a train?? Oh, yeah, at the station it's not so hard, there is a bit of a step up and you are on, or a bit of a step down and you're and you're off.

Lets move away from the station, and THEN try to get off. NOW you have a drop of several feet because the station has a built-up platform for you to step out onto.

LOTS of people don't jump down too well, particularly if they wear Gucci Shoews and spend the whole day sitting in front of a computer screen or a desk. Broken bones are a start, and suits are a REAL follow-up.

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), September 17, 1999.


"Lets move away from the station, and THEN try to get off. NOW you have a drop of several feet because the station has a built-up platform for you to step out onto. "

Didn't realize this. Haven't been on a train for about 30 years (excluding subway). Seems obvious in retrospect, though...

-- Anonymous99 (Anonymous99@Anonymous99.xxx), September 17, 1999.


They mentioned this on Dan Rather's 48 Hours program last night.

Said many annoyed CEO's and Executives caught on those trains, were using their cell phones to call the heads of Amtrak to complain. Then when nothing happened, said many of those angry Executives were the one's who opened those windows, jumped out, and caught cabs back to town.

Gawd... save us from the angry CEO's! (Scary folks in a crisis!)

;-D

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), September 17, 1999.



People don't get to be CEOs by being indecisive.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), September 17, 1999.

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