Lawyers Inspect Site Of Midland Train Tragedy, Signal Equipment
By: Big 2 News Staff
Updated: December 18, 2012
MIDLAND -- Lawyers representing victims of the Midland train tragedy are in the taking a closer look at the gates and signals at the railroad crossing where the fatal crash took place.
A Union Pacific train plowed into a parade float at the Garfield Street railroad crossing on November 15th.
The crash killed 4 veterans and wounding 17 other people.
Attorneys hired by the victims were checking out the lines of sight at the intersection of West Industrial Avenue and South Garfield Street on Monday
Attorneys also looked at the signal plan itself, which is inside the signal box at the intersection.
Attorneys also examined the circuits themselves.
"We found that the signal control system's been modified since 1992 when it was originally designed and approved by the state, attorney Kevin Glasheen told Big 2. "And we still know that it has not performed and given the warning that's required. We're studying the system today, gathering data, and then we'll analyze that to determine why it didn't give the 30 second warning."
Union Pacific maintains that the railroad crossing gave a 20 second warning before the train crossed, which is in line with federal standards approved by the Federal Railroad Administration.
The victims' attorneys argue that the South Garfield Street intersection was designed with a 30 second warning period, and they add that the design specifications for the crossing should have superseded the federal standards for a warning time.
The attorneys will be be investigating the actual locomotive involved in the crash in Fort Worth on December 18th.
A Union Pacific train plowed into a parade float at the Garfield Street railroad crossing on November 15th.
The crash killed 4 veterans and wounding 17 other people.
Attorneys hired by the victims were checking out the lines of sight at the intersection of West Industrial Avenue and South Garfield Street on Monday
Attorneys also looked at the signal plan itself, which is inside the signal box at the intersection.
Attorneys also examined the circuits themselves.
"We found that the signal control system's been modified since 1992 when it was originally designed and approved by the state, attorney Kevin Glasheen told Big 2. "And we still know that it has not performed and given the warning that's required. We're studying the system today, gathering data, and then we'll analyze that to determine why it didn't give the 30 second warning."
Union Pacific maintains that the railroad crossing gave a 20 second warning before the train crossed, which is in line with federal standards approved by the Federal Railroad Administration.
The victims' attorneys argue that the South Garfield Street intersection was designed with a 30 second warning period, and they add that the design specifications for the crossing should have superseded the federal standards for a warning time.
The attorneys will be be investigating the actual locomotive involved in the crash in Fort Worth on December 18th.
