Allen Dee
Lead Service Attendant
On Sunday, September 12, 2004, a northbound UP freight struck an auto carrier that was transporting a load of classic, restored Porches at approximately 3:45 PM.
Here is what the Trains News Wire had to say about the accident:
"Oh, the wreckage — UP freight takes out truckload of Porsches
VENTURA, Calif. – A truck with two flatbed trailers carrying 5 vintage Porsches was struck and destroyed by a Union Pacific freight train about 3:45 p.m. yesterday. The train, symboled MWCPD-12 and bound from West Colton, Calif., to Portland, Ore. on the railroad’s Coast Line, hit the truck after the vehicle became trapped on the tracks near the Ventura County Fairgrounds, according to UP spokesman John Bromley. After the incident, some of the Porsches, which had been on display at a show and were valued at about $200,000 each, were said to be only 2 to 3 feet high. Ventura is about 70 miles northwest of Los Angeles; the Coast Line is a former Southern Pacific route.
Bromley said the lead locomotive, SD70M No. 3955, derailed its front wheel assembly and suffered extensive damage. The crossing gates were destroyed. Although an undetermined amount of fuel from the truck and the Porsches leaked. Rail service was re-established about 4 hours later, with cleanup crews having to remove large amounts of debris from under the 3955.
According to Bromley, the truck driver stopped on the tracks when the vehicle in front of him stopped. The northbound UP train came by a moment later. There were no reported injuries to the train crew of the truck driver.
Because of this incident, Amtrak Pacific Surfliner 775, bound from San Diego to San Luis Obispo, was terminated at Oxnard, with passengers continuing their trip by bus, according to Amtrak spokeswoman Sarah Swain. Southbound Pacific Surfliner 796, which originated in Santa Barbara, was terminated at Oxnard, and those passengers were bused to Los Angeles. Northbound train 786 was delayed by the incident, and the southbound Coast Starlight from Seattle was terminated at Santa Barbara, with passengers boarding buses there to Los Angeles."
The final paragraph of this article contains many errors. I was on board Pacific Surfliner train 785 from LAUS to SBA later that evening. I will submit a trip report in the near future that will set the record straight on this accident.
Please be patient. It will be a very interesting trip report.
Here is what the Trains News Wire had to say about the accident:
"Oh, the wreckage — UP freight takes out truckload of Porsches
VENTURA, Calif. – A truck with two flatbed trailers carrying 5 vintage Porsches was struck and destroyed by a Union Pacific freight train about 3:45 p.m. yesterday. The train, symboled MWCPD-12 and bound from West Colton, Calif., to Portland, Ore. on the railroad’s Coast Line, hit the truck after the vehicle became trapped on the tracks near the Ventura County Fairgrounds, according to UP spokesman John Bromley. After the incident, some of the Porsches, which had been on display at a show and were valued at about $200,000 each, were said to be only 2 to 3 feet high. Ventura is about 70 miles northwest of Los Angeles; the Coast Line is a former Southern Pacific route.
Bromley said the lead locomotive, SD70M No. 3955, derailed its front wheel assembly and suffered extensive damage. The crossing gates were destroyed. Although an undetermined amount of fuel from the truck and the Porsches leaked. Rail service was re-established about 4 hours later, with cleanup crews having to remove large amounts of debris from under the 3955.
According to Bromley, the truck driver stopped on the tracks when the vehicle in front of him stopped. The northbound UP train came by a moment later. There were no reported injuries to the train crew of the truck driver.
Because of this incident, Amtrak Pacific Surfliner 775, bound from San Diego to San Luis Obispo, was terminated at Oxnard, with passengers continuing their trip by bus, according to Amtrak spokeswoman Sarah Swain. Southbound Pacific Surfliner 796, which originated in Santa Barbara, was terminated at Oxnard, and those passengers were bused to Los Angeles. Northbound train 786 was delayed by the incident, and the southbound Coast Starlight from Seattle was terminated at Santa Barbara, with passengers boarding buses there to Los Angeles."
The final paragraph of this article contains many errors. I was on board Pacific Surfliner train 785 from LAUS to SBA later that evening. I will submit a trip report in the near future that will set the record straight on this accident.
Please be patient. It will be a very interesting trip report.
