4 ms·

Now the question is: why did he think it was acceptable to disembark? The report says this was an experienced engineer with a clean record. If it had worked, he

• mannykannot 5y ago
  His expectation that he would be successful may have rested on several misapprehensions: He thought he had engaged dynamic braking and thought it would be effective at that speed. On account of the first issue, he did not realize that increasing the engine output would cause the train to accelerate (as opposed to merely energize the field windings, as it would with dynamic braking properly selected.) In addition, "the engineer seemed to believe, in error, that an automatic brake application would improve braking power on single locomotive with the independent brake fully applied" (from the conclusions of the report.) Plus he was acting in haste, and therefore not thinking it through.
• jandrese 5y ago
  He has the choice of sticking to policy but having an accident, or ignoring the policy to avert the accident, only to cause a different accident later due to some additional factors.
  • joncrane 5y ago
    Only the eventual outcome of this was not an accident. Another train caught up with this runaway train, coupled to it, attached the air brake hoses, and applied the brakes. This slowed the train to a crawl. Then an engineer was able to jump aboard and cut the power. The only damage was the burned out brakes on the locomotive.