The Chase Maryland Collision 35 years later (Remastered)

[@bignycatx]

I was actually on that Amtrak train when it crashed Jan 4th 1987. I was traveling with my little 6 year old niece and we almost missed it. I used to love riding on trains and would always sit as far front as possible but this day we were running late and ended up sitting in the 9th or 10th car. A few minutes before the crash I went up about 3 cars to the food/bar car to get us something to eat. I remember standing in line (traveling backwards) and felt the car jerk a bit. I guess that's when the conductor slammed on the brakes cause a couple of seconds later I went flying backwards landing on my butt sliding towards the forward door. I tried to catch myself by putting both hands out to grab the seats or anything else I could but all the seats had been jolted out of place so there was nothing to grab onto. The train was in a massive deceleration and anything or anyone that was not buckled in went flying towards me and the other passengers on the floor. I remember seeing some objects hurtling towards us. I put my arms up to protect my face and luckily I did not get hit. When the train finally came to a halt people were screaming and I remember asking/shouting to one lady if she was hurt. I could not see any obvious injury to her so I focused my attention on getting to my niece a few cars back. I instinctively went towards the rear door (as did other passengers) but we could not get the door to open. We then decided to open an emergency window and being that I was probably one of the younger and stronger people there (I was 21 and in the military) I went out first and helped several passengers get out until another man around my age and size got out. I told him I had to go and for him to keep helping other passengers get off that car. The whole thing looked like a movie scene with the mangled cars up ahead and every other car derailed towards the back. As I was running towards my niece I noticed a small fire underneath one of the cars so I jumped into that car, grabbed a fire extinguisher and put it out. By the time I got to the car my niece was in she had been helped out of the car and was crying. I picked her up, moved just off the rail track edge and walked around not knowing what else to do. At some point the emergency crews arrived and set up treatment stations for critically injured passengers. I even remember seeing several bodies wrapped in sheets under a tent as I was walking around trying to figure out what happened and what to do next. I tried to shield my niece from all of this as best as I could and worked my way over to a nearby street. I walked up to the front of the train and saw the mangled mess and the 3 Conrail cars. I even took a couple of pictures with my old 110mm camera. About that time I noticed several passengers walking down a street away from the crash site and decided to join them. I cannot say enough about the community, the people living near the accident site opened their homes to all of us and did what they could to comfort us. They brought in as many passengers as they could fit in their homes, offered us food, water, the use of their bathrooms and telephones to call our families. One homeowner even allowed me to sit in his favorite lazy boy chair to watch the football game on at the time. Several hours later we got word to report to a triage center and there we were finally able to get evaluated for injuries. I guess I was in a state of shock that lasted the entire time (almost 8 hours) because I did not feel any pain until paramedics took my niece from my arms and then asked me if I had any injuries. It was then that I felt the pain in my lower back which I still have to this day. After the evaluation we were put up in a nearby hotel until we could claim our bags. My oldest sister (niece's mom) picked us up and drove us back to NY. The whole ordeal really didn't hit me until I had to fly from NY to my duty station in Hawaii a few days later. Back then family/friends could see the passengers off at the gate. When we got to the gate and I saw my airplane my hands started shaking uncontrollable. I tried to hide it from my parents but they probable saw it too. I figured there was no walking away if this airplane had a collision or crashed. I told one of the flight attendants my story and that I would need a stiff drink as soon as possible. I think I was the first to be served on that long 8 hour flight and as I deplaned she gave me a bottle of wine (I think) and an airline wings pin. To this day I have not been back on a train and rarely travel by plane (only as a last resort) but when I do, I have to have a couple of drinks before I board, not enough to make me an unruly passenger but enough to take the edge off a bit but I still think about mid-air collisions for the whole flight. Thanks for re-posting the video, I learned a few details watching it and it brought back some memories, mostly bad ones but also some good ones.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Wow! What a story, thank you so much for sharing this! I found it sad but touching that you were numb from the pain until you're niece was taken from you. The bonds you form with family go a long way. I wish you and you're niece all the best after experiencing such horror and pain and wish you two all the best for the future

[@bignycatx]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren I think my niece's young age made easier for her to deal with the accident. I think focusing on her well being and shielding her made me numb to my pain until someone else started looking after her. She's all grown now with 2 beautiful kids and a great life,,, thank you.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

@@bignycatx Glad to hear. :)

[@jamestheshinyredengine4350]

Wow such words

[@Mirkon177]

Wow!!! Thank you for telling your story man! I wish you all the best!!

[@hmhobbies]

My grandparents were on their way to a party when the collision happened, they remember seeing a huge fireball and drove on later finding out about the collision. My local volunteer fire department helped fight the fire and rescue the victims. Oddly enough, it was the collision that inspired them to build a O gauge layout. EDIT: thank you guys for all the likes and hearts along with the replies!

[@NorthWARail]

Oh wow

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Interesting story. Thanks for sharing

[@damianboyd1636]

Was 5052 repaired?

[@obenreizer7176]

That’s a interesting story there, my friend.

[@damianboyd1636]

Yes, 5052 was repaired.

[@TheMistyMan]

My mother was in the ninth train car in this crash. She chose the smoking car, and it might’ve saved her life. My grandma never got on her about smoking after that (but she did quit)

[@gavinmatt6624]

smoking saves

[@dylandevlin2102]

@@gavinmatt6624 is this instance yes it did

[@littleoldengines]

However, smoking can harm you!

[@dylandevlin2102]

@@littleoldengines exactly or in some cases kill

[@W4RR3N-AX]

I hope Your Mother Is Doing Well tho.

[@TheNWClassA1218]

I think I speak for a pretty much everyone that hearing about this wreck, especially obscure information from the more personal side, really gives me the chills. This documentary is definitely a ramp up from the original. Well done.

[@thedesigner00]

Will Jack ever have another appearance?

[@TheNWClassA1218]

@@thedesigner00 Idk

[@theamazingtrainkidproducti6865]

oh hey i did not expect to see you here

[@countryballasep12348]

@@TheNWClassA1218 😀

[@philipgraziano5577]

I am a retired Amtrak engineer and remember this day.I’ve seen warning whistles taped, deadman feature disabled (the deadman feature was a manual pedal on the floor of older locomotives that you needed to depress to prevent the brakes from applying). They were replaced by an alertor, which would flash causing the engineer to acknowledge it. These were safety features. To nullify them was crazy, but done all the time. After Chase incident, they implemented random drug testing. This was needed!

[@danielhutchinson6604]

Drug Testing may reduce the pool of Operators, but does less than reducing the number of operators and replacing them with Gadgets. The current Labor issues now show that operating Crews are not honered as much as Profits to Investors. More Towers with Humans being paid a decent Wage do more good than Cab signale, and this version appears to gloss over the disabled cab signals that other reports refer to..... Respect for operators appears to prevent more accidents than devices that appear to save money for the corporation.....

[@vidyadharjoshi5714]

Safety Systems have a feature which alams when that feature is disabled. ( not for whistle but for brakes it should have alerted to someone ).

[@pashon4percushon]

with the legalization of that garbage these young cats today are doing it more openly and employers are getting overwhelemed.

[@joeydoherty368]

@@pashon4percushonAre you for making alcohol illegal? It’s the same concept. Besides, locking up people for nonviolent drug offenses can also harm society and potentially create more dangerous criminals. Employers should ensure people are drug free while in safety sensitive positions, but that’s all you can do.

[@soocarman6564]

One thing that wasn't touched on was the Conrail management. In the account I read years ago, Ricky Gate told the crew caller that he was impaired and could not work. He crew caller said that if he didn't take the call he would be fired. I was a railroader back then too. I remember seeing engineers and brakeman in the cab of trains that had no business being there.

[@eshelly4205]

I worked for ConRail in 1994. I was on the extra board most of the time but I did do several runs from Wimpy quarry in Lebanon Pa to Philadelphia. We would take 138 cars of lime stone down snd bring empty ones back. The entire time working for them as a brakeman and conductor I found the men and woman I work with were totally professional and safe. They preached safety constantly. I did the same run to Enola bringing just locomotives to the yard. We had anywhere from 3 to 6 locomotives. But what was lacking was support from ConRail. I have been on tracks where the ties were rotted but ConRail would only replace every 6 tie. We would complain about unsafe locomotives and told to go anyway. I personally tried to cut a boxcar do to it being mechanically unsafe and was told no you will take it anyway.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Ah I live by those tracks (across the river from Abrams yard) interesting since Ive heard such things before and their successor Norfolk Southern is even worse than them.

[@Unstopy]

Your narration and general video quality has come a long way in the last 5 years, keep it up dude! I’d definitely support more remasters like these.

[@jenniferpesquera1783]

Please make more videos about train derailment

[@MrLancealot]

I've been watching your documentaries for a while and it's amazing to see how far you've come with your storytelling! Keep up the good work!

[@LindaCooper-i3f]

This story needs to be told as a movie by Francis Ford Coppola on theatre screens.

[@SPG69]

The fact that there’s people in the comments who have some sort of connection to this crash really shows that we live in a small world

[@SPG69]

@TheP725gonna pretend I didn’t read that…

[@armorpro573]

@TheP725Well there’s no way to prove or disprove these claims. But yeah, take it with a grain of salt

[@cesarcarranza216]

this was the first document i watched from your channel and seeing it being remastered is interesting because we can see how much love you put into these documents

[@ashleybritton5335]

I also watched the first train crash that you made 5 years ago very good❤

[@Trainboy17]

I’ve Been Watching Your Collision Documentaries Since Last Year And Keep Them Up! They Give Me In A Chilling Feeling Every Time!

[@CoolGamer-yb4cv]

Same

[@marianaguzman6861]

I have been also

[@damianboyd1636]

The 2020 chase md Collision video's thumbnail gives me the chills

[@TokyoXZachary]

how did u comment when the vid isn't published

[@damianboyd1636]

@@TokyoXZachary it was a premiere

[@AlexanderSkinnerVids]

There’s something incredibly unsettling seeing Evans’ POV from the Amtrak cab. It’s so terrifying because *it all actually happened.*

[@williamobrien6347]

What's the POV u are talking about???

[@Crazyfrog41]

@@williamobrien6347 6:20

[@williamobrien6347]

What is the POV u r talking about????

[@parkslankford6114]

@@williamobrien6347 the one in the cab with the explosion.

[@CamDaManCangame]

He was probably the luckiest since he was the first to die and an instant light out, thus he wouldn't feel any pain or guilt of geting into an accident unlike the 2 conrail drivers

[@louisbradas691]

If I remember the facts correctly, the head coach was being deadheaded unoccupied and took the brunt of the impact. This saved a lot of lives.

[@LindaCooper-i3f]

Apparently.

[@ricladouceur6202]

The lack of empathy of the locomotive engineer during the interview was unbelievable.

[@rorybray7487]

Yes, he didn't seem to understand what he had done.

[@Remnant09]

Yeah I presume he was still in denial that he was at fault. The main reason his sentence was originally a century in prison was not for causing the wreck, but contempt of court for lying.

[@nolantherailfan5048]

He knew he was responsible

[@Larrymh07]

I worked for a Class One for a short time. I kept my ears open. His name was well known.

[@RMSTitanicWSL]

The speed restriction for the Amtrak train was actually due to the inclusion of a Heritage fleet car in the consist. This meant Amtrak should have not exceeded 105 mph. It was determined that this would have made no material difference in the crash. Overall, this video is a big improvement over your older videos, which often had loud music that interfered with your narrations.

[@bertramnedbal8480]

I don't understand. The train managed to slow down only from 125 to 120 mph. It would have slowed down to 95 mph or so had it been following the speed restriction, as there would be somewhat more time to brake before the collision. Due to how kinetic energy works, that would lead to a massive 37% reduction of the crash energy compared to 120 mph. It's simply impossible that a crash with 37% less kinetic energy would have the same damage or casualties.

[@RMSTitanicWSL]

@@bertramnedbal8480 The problem is that even with 37% less kinetic energy, the two trains would have still been destroyed. You're just as dead at Ground Zero of a 5 megaton nuclear blast as you are being at Ground Zero of an 8 megaton nuclear blast.

[@bertramnedbal8480]

@@RMSTitanicWSL Well, 644 people survived and almost 480 walked away uninjured. Only two railcars appear heavily crushed and these two almost certainly carried much more than 16 passengers. If the train had been slower, there would certainly be less damage, especially to the second one, and the passengers would have been thrown around less violently.

[@RMSTitanicWSL]

@@bertramnedbal8480 Less violently.... but still violently enough to kill them and destroy the locomotives and first few cars. A 95 mph impact between two trains is still brutally violent.

[@bertramnedbal8480]

@@RMSTitanicWSL Yet many people in the first few cars survived even a 120 mph one.

[@MatNichols-iz9dy]

This documentary is just, so good! I'm 15 as of 2023, but you are one of the main reasons why I have such respect for the past. Thank you again.

[@MBTA1234]

Been watching these amazing documentaries ever since 2018 I love how much they have evolved and I look forward to seeing more amazing documentaries in the future

[@W4RR3N-AX]

Same

[@dfp383]

Same

[@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014]

I hope 5044 and 5052’s new owners notice the historical significance in them and possibly spare them preservation once they retire the units. And if so, the units come back to America and get returned to their original form.

[@dillonpierce7869]

Those aren't coming this far back after the re-gauging I wouldn't expect....

[@DanTDMJace]

@@dillonpierce7869the historical community can do anything.

[@colbyjames7205]

@@dillonpierce7869 Their is a group in Brazil calls themselves ABPF they Preserve Brazillian Railway History and they also saved a couple of GE locomotives from what I recall?" They rescued Brazil's only surviving C30-7A, Rumo Logistca no. 7202 and it now runs excursions, And they rescued a Former Hamersley and Iron Railroad Australia GE C36-7 no. 5057 later ALL then Rumo Logística, no. 9380 now owned by ABPF and runs excursions these days. Anything is possible.

[@dillonpierce7869]

@@colbyjames7205 I forget what country but someone's still running the German ww2 trains in a coal mine somewhere. Asia I think.

[@frankadams2401]

I worked with his Brother Buck. Buck was a tug boat captain hauling barges up and the Cheasapeak bay. One day Buck went aground and there was a oil spill. Buck went before a Congressional hearing. The result was Buck lost his Capt. license. Bad luck seemed to run in the Gates family.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing this interesting story

[@rwboa22]

Due to this, most through freight started to be rerouted onto the paralleling B&O/Chessie/CSX Philadelphia Subdivision line and Conrail/Norfolk Southern movements on the NEC restricted to late night/overnight hours (when Amtrak movement is at its minimum and MARC, NJT, and SEPTA movements have ended for the business day).

[@mxkoifish6984]

I like that you chose to redo your first video, I think it really shows how far you've come as video producer. I would say this is your best video to date! The simulator footage, news clips, and additional information really enhances everything so much!

[@auburnltl7452]

21:05 I have never seen the damage to 5045, but now I have. Dear lord that thing was obliterated!

[@longwindingroad]

@AUBURN LTL , Auburn, AL ?

[@TheBlazinJedi]

I love these videos! I highly recommend doing a video on the Australian 1977 Granville rail disaster, where 83 people died. The train derailed, hit a bridge support beam, and then the bridge fell on the coaches.

[@TomYouAreDoingItWrong]

My older brother worked with both Gates and Cromwell out of Bayview. They became the poster children of everything that was wrong with substance abuse, not only in the railroad industry, but all workplaces where death and injury could be traced to that problem. I spent nearly 30 years at Union Pacific Railroad as a Locomotive Engineer, 25 of which were as a Local Chairman in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen. I have had to defend my co-workers in failure-to-stop collisions. Those instances were not substance abuse issues, but rather fatigue caused by lousy train line-ups, and being summoned for work unexpectedly. Sleepiness is as much an attentive issue as drug and alcohol abuse. We now have Positive Train Control, which is long overdue. It took the Frankford Junction wreck on Amtrak to get the railroads and Congress off the dime and get it operational.

[@jacobdubielak2699]

I bet your brother was the friendest engineer ever

[@waynemacfarland1546]

My mom and I were riding the train home to New Jersey from Baltimore that same night. We were supposed to be on that train but luckily we got on the one before it running on that same line. We got to Penn Station in Baltimore early, so we got on the early train. When we got home that night, we got a lot of messages from our friends and family on the answering machine, making sure we were alright. We had no idea what happened until we heard about the train wreck.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Jeez that's crazy

[@keatonendler8202]

An updated and modernized version of the first documentary he made?! AMAZING WORK!

[@Big73Bang]

I remember I was travelling back to Washington from NYC that day by car with family members. We didn't hear about it until about 3 pm or so. By that time, we were in southern NJ getting ready to cross into Delaware. It sparked some panic cause another family member who was going to Howard University at the time had hopped a Metroliner going south that morning. There was relief when we found out it was north bound train that wrecked. My relative on the southbound Metroliner had only passed thru Chase maybe 2 or 3 hours before. Now that I watched Thunderbolt's video, i'm almost certain she passed the northbound as it was leaving Washington. She may have even seen it boarding passengers or possibly pulling out of Union Station in DC. Fate.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

That's quite chilling realizing the people they saw on the eventual wreck train would meet a certain doom.

[@rogerrendzak8055]

South Jersey, crossing into Delaware. Was that by the twin spans (Delaware Memorial bridge), or Cape May's ferry?

[@Big73Bang]

@@rogerrendzak8055 Bridges

[@rogerrendzak8055]

@@Big73Bang Ok. That's probably the Twin Spans to Delaware.

[@streamlinedtransit]

Amazing video! I have visited the derailment scene before, and as a MD NEC local myself, I understand just how crucial this incident was in our history. Thanks for shedding light on it.

[@mce_AU]

Very well done video. Such a sad event and well covered by you. Keep them coming. Cheers from AUS.

[@wildcatindustries8030]

The difference between the first version and the remaster is significant, your production quality has improved a lot. Can’t wait to see more wrecks years later videos.

[@Thedragonlover95]

The train storyteller is here with a new documentary. And as always he delivers

[@LindaCooper-i3f]

Right on.

[@LoaftheProtogen]

You’ve improved on your documentaries so much since the original video, I also personally like the fact you used Train Simulator 20xx as I find it can give you more realistic recreations of accidents.

[@Highone420evryday]

I think its Trainz

[@LoaftheProtogen]

@@Highone420evryday it definitely isn’t trainz, I’ve been playing train sim for the last 6 ish years, so I can tell it apart. The main way you can tell it apart from trainz is the derail physics, in the more modern trainz games, the engine and its train just stop, ts has a ragdoll sort of train crash

[@Highone420evryday]

@@LoaftheProtogen and theres a X on top of the train and the cars when they derail

[@Coolonefilms4627]

@@LoaftheProtogen also he can remaster the 1989 cajon pass runaway 34 years later

[@theamazingtrainkidproducti6865]

I beet those 16 victims are in a better place after this terrible accident, including the Amtrak engineer, Jerome Evans who was 35, College student Ceres Millicent Horn who was 16, Cristy Johnson who was 20, and other more victims that were killed in the collision. This documentary in 2022 was better than the original in 2017, Nice Work.

[@JamalMcCoy-tx2vz]

I love the way this guy narrates the documentary... He keeps you glued to your screen up til the inevitable second of impact... My condolences go out to everyone who suffered any loss and to the families 😭😞😭

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Thank you so much!

[@Amy-pp7ro]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren how is your future looking for you

[@RascalTrainz]

Congratulations! Your narration skills have really grown since I’ve seen the first version!

[@wildcatindustries8030]

I love your years later documentaries and I really hope you keep making them for a while. They are always nice to see

[@LindaCooper-i3f]

Likewise.

[@V-max97]

I really enjoy how you follow the cab numbers right to the present day of where the engines are at.

[@stephenbritton9297]

As far as drug/alcohol testing in transportation goes, remember, the EXXON VALDEZ accident happened in 1989, adding more fuel to that fire and resulting regulations.

[@LindaCooper-i3f]

Ofcourse.

[@ALCO-C855-fan]

Yep. Exxon is one of the worst.😠

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Talk about random drug/alcohol tests for railroad train crews in the U.S., I was once randomly tested two days in a row as a locomotive engineer (now retired). Both tests negative of course. I got teased by my fellow railroaders for a while after those back-to-back random tests!

[@tanasue77]

I am so afraid of trains but am loving your videos! I was crossing a train trestle with my bike when I was 15 yrs old. I jumped onto the big siderails to escape getting hit and survived. Bike didn't. The train finally stopped at the third engine. They helped me up onto train and dropped me off three crossings down . Sorry so long . Love the old and new versions! Thanks

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

PLEASE Stay off railroad property! You're lucky the bike was the only thing mangled and not your body! I've seen too many close calls each one more dangerous than the last!

[@nellAyaR2034]

Can we nominate this guy for the most exciting & lively voice ever??

[@prestongarvey2961]

I’m happy he learned his lesson and goes around to schools and what not explaining how doing drugs and alcohol can change so much and in such little time

[@rustynail6819]

Our fire dept started doing yearly Amtrak rescue training because of this plus we also got rescue tools that would help skin the train. The cars were like a tin can that you had to literally peel open and then cut the steel beams to get into the car.

[@LindaCooper-i3f]

Good thinking.

[@andrewmazzarini2742]

It's certainly a world of difference between the original and this remaster, well done! I eagerly await more remastered docs!

[@datrashman1115]

Hi there Thunderfoot! I'm a long time listener, I've always loved your work, but WOW- seeing this reworked video shows just how far you've come! Keep up the good work!

[@thehotrainguy586]

Thunderfoot lmao who

[@datrashman1115]

@@thehotrainguy586 lmaooooooo it autocorrected to my friend's username

[@tyrikuntamed4206]

I love how you explain every detail of the stories, and how their is a simulation of how it looked. Please keep more of the train videos💯🙏🏾

[@azgchip2640]

You should make a T-shirt with the quote: "Immediately hit the emergency brake, but it was too late". Its basically the catchphrase of the channel.

[@LectronCircuits]

Excellent training film! It's an old crash now, but still quite memorable. Good job. Cheers!

[@sqillianustentacle7412]

MY MAN YOUR BACK man im glad i missed your videos i keep rewatching your old ones hope those familys are safe and well after this crash.

[@LindaCooper-i3f]

Likewise.

[@MainMite06]

When the world needed him the most, he returned: *THUNDERBOLT 1000 Productions!*

[@donpee5204]

This is an Awesome video, your detail information is really appreciated. My condolences 🙏🏽 to those who were lost in this incident .

[@squidparty2000]

My dad grew up in nearby Oliver Beach, Maryland and he remembers this. He said him and his friends were on their bikes and heard a loud boom and saw a big ball of fire and smoke. They rode over to where the tracks are and into the forest and he said they saw several wounded people with blood and scars all over them walking through the forest like zombies. Something he'll never forget.

[@ClubDeHockey]

I cant wait I love the years after videos he has to do way more of them, I'm running out of them to watch

[@LindaCooper-i3f]

How about possibly doing a video about the 1953 New Zealand 🇳🇿 train wreck that occurred because of a lahar from a volcano west of the tracks?

[@WeirdAndrew789]

The Chase and incident is the worst train accident ever in Maryland history. I even saw the document and the remastered version is the best one ever.

[@WeirdAndrew789]

Who like my comment

[@jay-z635]

The animation and narration for this video was great. Please make more videos of this caliber ! After that accident, the NTSB required all engineers of trains that travel over 15mph to be certified for 3 yrs. at a time !

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Glad you enjoyed

[@Gojira160]

​@@Thunderbolt_1000_SirenWhen can the 2002 Placentina train collision coming out?

[@aday1637]

I was over there when this happened. I was working as an HVAC mechanic. I had a service call at a shopping center shoe store on new year's eve and went back over that morning with parts to complete the job. I saw the emergency vehicles and heard on the radio reports of the wreck.

[@Driftking0311]

Your documentary of your train wrecks is so inspiration…. I love your videos… keep up making these videos… Hope you have a new year of 2022. 😁

[@dwarfyy2295]

man isn’t it nice knowing your gonna have something to watch before while you eat

[@UnionPacific3977]

Finally a remastered version, have been waiting for this for quite a long time, thanks, and wish you well!

[@florjanbrudar692]

TBH as a watcher for 2 years I never expected a remaster

[@cyberkidmfb]

I really love the production…reminds me of shows like Air Crash Investigations from when I was a kid. Really good work!

[@XvlerLorenzo]

One thing I always wondered was why Edward Cromwell didn't get any charges. I recently learned that's because he cut a backroom deal with the FBI saying he would testify against engineer Gates in exchange for no prison time

[@GearheadExplorer85]

I'm a little late to the party. Great video Thunderbolt and congrats on your new job at New Hope Railroad! I've been watching your channel for a while always do a great job with the narrations. Another accident you might be interested in documenting is the Russell Hill subway accident that happened in Toronto in 1995.

[@blaaazer441]

Very interesting to see a documentary like this. I was born 10 years after this, so I never knew about it til a few yrs ago, but a buddy of mine lives in the neighborhood in which this happened. We would watch the Amtrak’s go by in the exact spot where this happened, and we never knew the history of what went down!!

[@LindaCooper-i3f]

How puzzling.

[@PoopooR]

I’ve been to the terminus of the corridor. They have a set of buffers at the end. This one time in 1976, a passenger train smashed into the platform, and into over 7 tables

[@jonlanier_]

My Dad was an Engineer who worked the railroad for 46 years and retired in 1980. I remember him telling us that those "Young Firemen and breakmen" are doing drugs on the job. Being the old-timer... he reported them every time... but it sounded like all they got was a slap on the wrist.

[@LindaCooper-i3f]

Then maybe it’s just about time that the dealers and pushers who supplied them were also held accountable, to say the least?

[@jenniferpesquera648]

Thank God you and your niece were OK. At least you help others who were hurt and injured.

[@hainam8614]

Woohoo! Although I've only found you for 1 month, you've done so many good things :D

[@gregfaris6959]

It is amazing to observe the sinusoidal waveform of the train cars following the initial shockwave.

[@natethegreat5968]

As someone from Maryland and lives very close to Chase it feels so sad that barely anyone knows about it

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

My uncle lived not that far either (Bel Air, bout a half hour away from Chase) He unfortunately passed last month from a heart attack at age 66 :(

[@-DAVIDTHELITTLECUDDLEBUG-]

​@@Thunderbolt_1000_Sireni'm sorry for your loss 😞

[@bryancooper2699]

I am so glad I subscribed to this. The Chase accident brings back a lot of memories. I was in my early 20’s at the time. More detail here than I can remember.

[@robinfryer479]

In England, starting in the 1939s, there’s been the adoption of improving Automatic Train Control, then AWS (Automatic Warning System) and more still. Driving cabs have random vigilance controls. Buttons that have to be pressed to stop brakes going on, at random. When trains passed “Safe” signals, a loud bell rang. If the (distant) signals were at danger, a siren sounded, and the brakes were automatically applied, unless the driver intervened. These systems were introduced over 50 years before this terrible Conrail crash. Also, we usually only run trains in one direction on one track. I appreciate that USA is a poor country, without the resources to build more lines to carry the trains, though.

[@jakenolan2572]

In the US, we have a weird reliance on the automobile and thus don’t want trains. Hope we actually do something about this within the next decade.

[@antz350]

You are correct this country is a facade. Proud peons

[@jacksalvin364]

January 4th, 1987 1:30 p.m. 6:13-6:16 #5052 and #5044 survive the collision, repair in Altoona, Pennsylvania repainted and return to service hauling freight.

[@Leonx3]

This was well-worth the wait. Keep up the good work.

[@cornholio329]

Congrats on a another awesome video I live in Florida n was in key west a few years ago n learned about the overseas railroad and the 1935 labor day hurricane Been a fan on ur channel since the beginning of these documentaries n im always looking forward 2 the next 1

[@mixedpickles9201]

That was Seabord. Now they still run FEC down the coast of Florida but stop at Miami. No more go to Key West. Glad you could learn about that though!

[@LindaCooper-i3f]

For starters, it was FEC that had the line that went to Key West. And another thing, the other one was spelled S-E-A-B-O-A-R-D.

[@thomasdupee1440]

100 years to the day before this tragedy, January 4, 1887, was a collision between a passenger train and a freight train on the B&O Chicago line at Republic, Ohio. Both crashes resulted in 16 fatalities.

[@amtrakdude432]

ok

[@LindaCooper-i3f]

16 apiece.

[@B-and-O-Operator-Fairmont]

Don Phillips had an excellent article about the wreck. He noted that the Amtrak Tower Operator at Edgewood was watching the lights progress across his board, indicating the passage of the Colonial. Edgewood had remote control of Gunpowder Interlocking. The signal at GUNPOW "knocked down" (went to stop) indicating what the operator thought was the Colonial entering the interlocking plant, and he hit the lever to reset it for another train following (the Conrail engines were supposed to wait for at least two passenger trains before being released). Then he noticed the track occupancy light was out where the Conrail engines should have been waiting. Then every light on the board lit up. He called the Dispatcher who replied that Bayview Tower also lost their remote interlockings. That was the first indication something terrible had happened. I wonder what the Power Director thought in the instant the 13KV breakers tripped. There was also some speculation about whether or not Mr. Evans could possibly have survived if he had a GG-1? While the sheer impact force makes that theory highly unlikely, he had zero chance on the flat-nosed AEM-7. Mr. Phillips pointed out the NTSB report said Mr. Evan's emergency application did get The Colonial slowed to about 95 mph at impact. Today all the AEM-7s are out of service and all of the lineside interlocking towers are closed. CTEC controls everything. It is somewhat wonderous that there were "only" 16 fatalities, proving once again the overall survivability of train wrecks. One little detail on the simulation, there would not be switch stands with rotating banners in the limits of the interlocking as those switches are power operated and protected by signals.

[@johndavies1090]

It shows the vast improvement in carriage construction since the early days. Many US wrecks, well into the 40's and 50's had dreadfully high death tolls. Ours (GB) generally speaking had much lower rates - I'm not sure why, because our coach construction wasn't much better. Perhaps the greater mass of US 'heavyweight' stock had something to do with it? Certainly modern carriages stand up to collision impact far better.

[@kommandantgalileo]

thank you, Rick, you have turned your life around and may have saved many lives with that testimony.

[@csxtrainfan319]

35 years now. And the accident won’t be forgotten

[@teddyguerrero1235]

Yes! I’ve been waiting for another one of these stories! I’m a big fan! Keep up the good work!

[@northpennvalleysteamrailroad]

Awesome remaster! I watched the original several times. The remaster is obviously better!

[@nursestoyland]

Bruh I’ve been missing out on these documents and now I seen what I’ve missed! Nice documentary man! :D congrats for the 50 awesome documentaries!

[@TheAustinSubRailfan]

Yeah! Finally another crash documentary! I like this series!

[@kingavery7878]

yes

[@stevenbowron1287]

I cannot believe those engines are still in service to this day true truly amazing

[@Zombiehunter2_0]

Earlier today, I was thinking of you maybe remaking an old documentary. Turns out, that thought came true!

[@danzmitrovich6250]

You did a very good job on it and as a volunteer firefighter trains can always be used for anything as well and i seen a few times they came in handy for rescuing calls as well and there untold stores about them

[@fernandomarques5166]

Well I guess I have two BB36-7s I can add to the list of engine I have to model when I get the chance. I saw many of those B30/36-7, C30/36-7 and SD40-2s being unloaded in the early 2000s, it is a part of brazilian railroad and railfanning/trainspotting culture, they became known as the "Sucatrintas" (EN: Scrapthirties) because of the sorry scrap like state they usually came off those ships. Each of the major american railroads recieved a nickname here (because most engine's kept their original livery for a long while, in fact i"m positive there still one two C30-7s with BN paint out here in 2022). BN green = Avocado SP = Red nose/Southern Atlantic BNSF orange = Orange (fruit) Conrail blue = Swallow (bird) HLCX = Captain America/Superman NS/NW black: Tunnel paint/Train in black KCS/KCSM/NdeM/TFM = Mexican or Navy gray UP = Big yellow I'm happy to see my country making a cameo in this documentary

[@LindaCooper-i3f]

One never can tell.

[@dennisbuono5415]

The documentary left out the fact that it was rumored that the Conrail crew was in possession of a portable TV set and that they were watching a football playoff game in the cab of the locomotive when the crash occurred. That factor could very possibly explain their inattentiveness to the block signal system that both the motorman and the brakeman missed that ultimately could have prevented this tragedy. After this accident, the National Transportation Safety Board initiated strict drug and alcohol testing on a nationwide basis for all safety sensitive operations including commercial drivers, locomotive engineers, heavy equipment operators, etc.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

I found no evidence of that rumor. The NTSB would of spotted it even if the crew chucked the TV trackside. I did mention that more strict drug/alcohol testing was mandated which led to the random tests that railroad employees get these days. You also have to piss in the cup before you can even start work as a trainee. Sadly what I forgot to mention was that the lessons got ignored in 2016 in when the Amtrak Palmetto slammed into a backhoe in Chester PA. Both track workers killed at the sight had cocaine in their systems and the engineer of the Palmetto tested positive for marijuana. With the legalization of recreational marijuana on the horizon accidents like this with people finding loopholes are sadly going to repeat.

[@csxrailfan45]

Well done on this documentary just like all your others. You have shown soon great impovment!

[@LordEverythingtrains]

This is bound to be good. So looking forward to it.

[@htos1av]

Well done and a great documentary! And a great homage to all the families and victims. RIP to all. And it's always great to see you as well!

[@valet5000]

I would love to have 5 min in a locked room with Gates!!!

[@LindaCooper-i3f]

True.

[@cjrexh875]

The 1987 Chase Maryland train collision was a railway accident that occurred on January 4, 1987, 16 people lost their lives and 170 were injured in a collision between an Amtrak train that smashed into a Conrail train. this disaster was called the worst in Amtrak’s history until the 1993 big bayou train accident, It is one of the worst train crashes that ever happened in the 80s

[@littleoldengines]

Excellent and amazing job, as usual! Happy New Year!

[@aaronberns8485]

It’s been a while since I saw your videos and maaaan you sure age like fine wine 🍷

[@Sam-xq9rp]

That engineer’s lack of concern over the lives he took because he was smoking dope and his claim that the marijuana did not impair his ability to operate the train and his track record with DUIs makes my blood boil. I am glad to see he made an effort to mitigate future accidents of that nature and showed remorse later on, but it never will change what happened.

[@jackflynn8494]

I go boating on the river by we’re this accident happed. Any time I look at the bridge and the tracks down it I’m reminded of this tragedy.

[@Giratina575]

This was excellent. Well done thunder. I'd love to see you tackle the trio of Burlington northern wrecks in the eighties l. Wiggins,Westminster and,motley

[@lovelycall]

So close to hitting 100k! Please remember me when you get more famous 😂 Keep up the amazing work!

[@owenball7218]

I lived in Baltimore County when this happened, opposite side of the county. I remember listening to the fire scanner and mor and more personnel and equipment being called to the scene. I think just about every fire station in Baltimore County sent something there in one way or another

[@anothercoyote7325]

Basically yes a lot of Northern/ western stations had medic units and brush units and any squads there. Mutual aid was from Baltimore city and harford counties. Fill in units were from Carroll county and Anne Arundel also York county may have provided equipment too iirc

[@CamDaManCangame]

*Thunder pin this please btw* some neat details: When the collision happens one shows the lead conrail locomotive only jolts forward with little to no damage as the rest of the two train are scattered like toys. This is neat that shows that the moment a Collison happens any of the cars that don't derail and are very heavy don't come come to a gradual stop or when stationary they don't just start rolling far, they just push forward very powerful from the energy transferd at the rear or front but stop as they are still potentially hooked up or the automatic brakes are still set

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Very cool facts but the current pinned comment being from an actual victim of the crash will remain pinned. I'll still promote it with a heart and like. Originally thanks to the goofy physics of Train simulator the 1st draft of the crash sequence had the CRs fly forward in the air like toys. A revision (I don't know how because the sim and Conrail reskin of the B36s was put together by a friend of mine) quickly fixed that to make it more realistic. By chance the derailment pattern of the Amtrak consist was eerily similar to how it was in real life.

[@marknovack2451]

I was a Supervisor/Dispatcher for Butler Aviation @ BWI general aviation the day that happened. I mainly remember stacking helicopter side doors behind my desk from all of the helicopters being rented. (The doors were taken off for TV cameraman to hang out for video taping).