R.G. Five
Backing Past The Scene
About 9:00 am this morning as we were heading out to catch the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train on the Chicago Sub when we heard a train on the BNSF Aurora Sub go into emergency. Herb the dispatcher came on quick and we heard him asking BNSF 4965 West what the emergency was. They advised they had struck a pick up at the West end of Chana at the Rocky Hollow crossing. Oregon Fire and EMS were dispatched as we listened to the crew relay to Herb, Herb to Ogle County Dispatch and then Ogle Dispatch to First Responders. We decided to head that way but stay clear of the incident.
I am not going to speculate on how this situation occurred. Being a Fire Chief, I strongly dislike keyboard speculators. All I know is the sole occupant of the vehicle was treated and transported to a Rockford area hospital.
All sorts of railroad officials arrived and after the initial investigation was complete 4965 moved forward about 50 cars and then backed into the siding at Chana. Here an official rides the rear car for the back up move. Once in the siding traffic could resume. An initial 6:30 relief crew made the back up move and then tied it down. An 11:00 crew came in and took her the rest of the way to LaCrosse.
Without this incident the train would have been an interesting consist. Power was BNSF leader 4965 (C44-9W), 2nd out was CSX 3465 (ET44AH) and 3rd was Ferromex 4645 (ES44AC)
Please keep the truck driver and all of the railroad crew members involved in this incident in your prayers.
Backing Past The Scene
About 9:00 am this morning as we were heading out to catch the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train on the Chicago Sub when we heard a train on the BNSF Aurora Sub go into emergency. Herb the dispatcher came on quick and we heard him asking BNSF 4965 West what the emergency was. They advised they had struck a pick up at the West end of Chana at the Rocky Hollow crossing. Oregon Fire and EMS were dispatched as we listened to the crew relay to Herb, Herb to Ogle County Dispatch and then Ogle Dispatch to First Responders. We decided to head that way but stay clear of the incident.
I am not going to speculate on how this situation occurred. Being a Fire Chief, I strongly dislike keyboard speculators. All I know is the sole occupant of the vehicle was treated and transported to a Rockford area hospital.
All sorts of railroad officials arrived and after the initial investigation was complete 4965 moved forward about 50 cars and then backed into the siding at Chana. Here an official rides the rear car for the back up move. Once in the siding traffic could resume. An initial 6:30 relief crew made the back up move and then tied it down. An 11:00 crew came in and took her the rest of the way to LaCrosse.
Without this incident the train would have been an interesting consist. Power was BNSF leader 4965 (C44-9W), 2nd out was CSX 3465 (ET44AH) and 3rd was Ferromex 4645 (ES44AC)
Please keep the truck driver and all of the railroad crew members involved in this incident in your prayers.