Flaming GMC
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 384
Likes: 0
Flaming GMC
Ok, I'm on a train rolling out of Mobile the other day when I happen to look back and notice that the second locomotive....a GMC locomotive.....is pouring coal black smoke and has 7 foot flames shooting out the stack. I don't think anything about because we need the extra power. So we chug on down the road a little piece. Well, when we get to Bay Minette, I see a fire truck sitting at the road crossing. The driver waves so I wave and we keep going. I asked my engineer if he thought that truck was for us. His exact words were "No, who the heck calls the fire department on a train?". So we keep going. A quarter mile down the road I look out the window to see 4 fire trucks, an ambulance, the fire chief and a LONG line of volunteer firefighters following us down the track. So we ended up having to stop and spend 20 minutes explaining that the engine was NOT on fire, that it was just a piece of crap. The really sad part is the other 2 locomotives were GEs that were built around 1965 and the piece of crap GMC was built in 2004.
Thought ya'll might enjoy that story.
Thought ya'll might enjoy that story.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
Sounds about right for the latest offerings from the General. I have seen more of those SD series engines go down than I care to think about. Saw one in Flagstaff that suffered major overheating, to the point it split a seam on the block. It still had a very nice shine to it, and the paint wasn't even worn off the steps or handrails. Maybe a month old.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 411
Likes: 0
From: SE Wisconsin
Sounds like the SD (or was it a Geep?)was built by ALCO and not EMD....lol
It just shows why GE overshadowed EMD years ago. Besides, everything from the old U-Boats on up to the Dash 8's and 9's of today are so much more aesthetically pleasing.
It just shows why GE overshadowed EMD years ago. Besides, everything from the old U-Boats on up to the Dash 8's and 9's of today are so much more aesthetically pleasing.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,697
Likes: 3
From: Marengo, Iowa
The fire trucks have to occasionally chase the trains down along the DM&E line in eastern South Dakota because of grass fires, had a few that had fuel leaks, helping the fire follow them... this came from one of the firefighters that had to help with the fire.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 0
From: Pleasant Hill, MO
Trending Topics
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,495
Likes: 7
From: Not as far west as I want
Originally Posted by fellro86
The fire trucks have to occasionally chase the trains down along the DM&E line in eastern South Dakota because of grass fires, had a few that had fuel leaks, helping the fire follow them... this came from one of the firefighters that had to help with the fire.
I seen a SD40 versus a gravel truck and pup trailer, the trailers were loaded too. The unit hit between trailer 1 and the pup trailer, at 40 MPH. Bent the hand rails into the cab.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 384
Likes: 0
I'm beginning to think that the lettrs GMC affect the intelligence level of the people around them. I just got in from Pensacola, FL and we almost took out a Duramax that apparently wanted to play chicken with a 10,000 ton coal train. And of course he was on my side not the engineers so I would have a bird's eye view of the whole thing.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 411
Likes: 0
From: SE Wisconsin
I think its more GM that affects the IQ more than anything. We had a kid about 2 years ago pull out of his job next to the tracks, stop because the lights were flashing and dinging, and from what the conductor said, he just pulled in front of the train and got nailed and dragged about a 1/4 mile before splitting the car in 2 and killing him. Strange seeing Flight For Life and 3 news helo's out in the boonies with the news crews on the ground. It wasnt pretty.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 384
Likes: 0
It's never pretty when a train hits someone. I worked with an engineer last week who told me that in 12 years of railroading he had hit 5 cars and killed 9 people. He said he hit a van with 9 people in it and only two survived. I haven't been on one that hit a vehicle . The biggest thing I've seen us run over to date was a cow.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 0
From: Pleasant Hill, MO
Lady in my hometown in an 03 sliverado 2500 had an incident. The train runs parallel to a small 2 lane highway. Well, the residential folks live on roads perpendicular to the highway and train track. The track is about 2 car lengths from the highway. Well, 3 cars got piled up at that stop sign, and she stops on the tracks and just waits there as the arms come down. She just sits there... 
She didn't try to back up or get out of the truck or anything. How embarassing for the family. Of course, she died in the accident. It may sound cold, but she wasn't killed. She died of her own accord.
Ryan
She didn't try to back up or get out of the truck or anything. How embarassing for the family. Of course, she died in the accident. It may sound cold, but she wasn't killed. She died of her own accord.Ryan