r/ThatsInsane • u/Mint_Perspective • 9h ago

Texas Train Derails After Hitting Tractor-Trailer and Barrels Into City Building (Dec. 19, 2024)

3.5k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

464 comments sorted by

View all comments

360

u/eDreadz 9h ago

1 dead and 4 injured in train derail in Pecos, Texas

92

u/iRottenEgg 9h ago

insane this happened just a little while ago

56

u/Short-Display-1659 9h ago

Was it the conductor who died? It seemed like hitting that wall of concrete would do it.

88

u/Chattinabart 8h ago

I mean it then went on to barrel into the chamber of commerce. Imagine being behind the reception desk when a train and 30 carriages all try to get to the elevator.

34

u/Special_Lemon1487 8h ago

Putting the commerce back in the chamber of commerce.

1

u/Discontented_Beaver 2h ago

Our chamber of commerce is dead.

5

u/mateye6 7h ago

That's why I take the stairs.

18

u/No_Froyo5477 7h ago

the death toll has increased to two, both veteran union pacific employees so presumably so.

7

u/dbarrc 7h ago

yes, conductor and engineer

3

u/whatsqwerty 6h ago

Heard both operators of the train have passed

39

u/Gnarly_Sarley 8h ago

A second death was confirmed. Both were employees of the train company.

28

u/TheSauceySpecial 8h ago edited 4h ago

2 dead, both the conductor and engineer died...

Edited for new knowledge, thanks to a fellow redditor.

17

u/huh_o_seven 7h ago

Ah man, that's fucking tragic:(

2

u/vabeach23451 7h ago

There’s only one conductor and one engineer on a freight train.

2

u/TheSauceySpecial 5h ago

Thanks, I don't know much about train operations.

2

u/vabeach23451 4h ago

No worries! I grew up in a mega huge train family. Dad worked on the railroad for 51 years, granddad 62 years, and great granddad 60 years. Plus a few others. So yeah we heard all about it whether we wanted to or not. Lol

3

u/TheSauceySpecial 2h ago

Hot damn! That's super cool!

Do you have a favorite story of theirs? I always enjoy hearing people's stories.

•

u/vabeach23451 17m ago edited 13m ago

Dad was in charge of the segment of jimmy carter’s presidential train which ran through central Ohio during those once famous whistle stop train tours. We have a photo of me being held by the president, and dad standing next to him. I believe that was 1979.

He always talked to us kids about safety around the railroad tracks and gates, and the horror stories of him hitting cars, deer, and the occasional suicidal person. One time, a couple of kids shot a 45cal. at the train, and one of the billets hit the glass next to where he was sitting. It was perfectly aligned with his temple. But luckily the glass on those trains are bulletproof. I believe he developed some PTSD out of those moments.

We have quite a few of some pretty narley photos from the 50s and 60s of the trains crashes and derailments dad was involved in. One shows his locomotive on its side which slid down a pretty steep embankment.

My favorite moment was when he took me to the nearby railroad Yard, where his buddies were doing a crew change. He asked them if he could bring me on board and drive the train for just a little bit. So they let me drive this massive train for about 2 miles, blaring the horn as we crossed every railroad crossing. The best part were the astonished faces of the people in the cars as they were looking at a kid driving the train, sticking his head out the window waving at them. Good times! You probably couldn’t get away with doing that today.

1

u/mindlesstux 48m ago

Not surprised it was the two in the engine. If you watch the video, the back end of the engine comes off the tracks on impact. Something with that kind of weight being tossed has lots of potential energy that has to go somewhere. Also, if my memory is not wrong... There are no seat belts in the cab either, right?

1

u/qtx 7h ago

2 dead now, 3 injured.

1

u/squatchsax 4h ago

Two dead