RailRoadFan.com

One of the worst nightmares of a crew is striking a school bus, and that has happened in N. Dakota.

http://news.yahoo.com/authorities-2-dea ... 26909.html

I have heard stories of engineers who have struck even empty school busses, and not been able to work for a while because they are traumatized by the situation.. never a good situation to hear about, no less be a part of.

There have been two schools buses hit in Ypsilanti, both at the same crossing (LeForge Rd.) and I was on both trains.

Not to start the speculation train (no pun intended) but I am leaning toward road conditions as the main factor in this accident. Driving on the back roads around here has been slick with the snow, let alone on the windswept prairie. Hit a patch of ice at the wrong time... That being said, they haven't released much so take it for what you may.

Thoughts to all those involved for this tradegy.

I'd hate to have that happen in Ypsi's district. Didn't even know it had happened before. What year were those, hogger, if you don't mind?

ConrailMan5 wrote:Not to start the speculation ...

So then the question is, why are you?

Lt. Troy Hischer of the North Dakota Highway Patrol said the weather was clear and the road was not icy.

http://www.grandforksherald.com/news/re ... llide-near

Don't remember the exact years, probably in the mid to late 90's. Both times, not the driver's fault, both times, nobody on the bus. Both times, the bus had stalled after doing it's mandatory stop with the doors open for whatever length of time and when starting to move ahead, engine stalled. First time was with train #374, the commuter train so we were already slowing down for the station stop, hit the bus mid-section at about 10 mph. Second time was with a westbound work train, 48 loads of ballast, hit the bus at about 48 mph. Still had the crossing blocked when we stopped, head end right behind McDonald's. Should mention that LeForge Rd is right in the middle of an S curve with the former Penn Paper Co building on the northwest side of the crossing.

That's good that they were empty, the old Ypsi bus depot was right by the tracks so everyday dozens of busses would have to cross those tracks to get to one of the many schools. It seems as though when busses are making the left turn from Huron to leforge are exempt from stopping as it would cause major issues with traffic flows.. Every other crossing in town I see them stop for the normal procedure (thankfully all of the divers I have seen are good about stopping at the crossings).

I just went to Mapquest to check on that railroad crossing at Leforge Rd just north of N. Huron River Dr, and it's bizarre because Mapquest calls the RR the "Penn Central Railroad"! I have noticed lots of various mapping services have old/outdated RR names.

Garry K