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Derailment prompts safety questions (New York television station WIVB posted the following story by Erika Brason on its website on February 9.) CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. -- A derailment at a Cheektowaga train yard is prompting questions about safety Monday night. Some CSX employees believe the new automated cars are a danger to workers and the public. There were moments of uncertainty Monday morning when eight train cars derailed in the Frontier Train Yard in Cheektowaga. Five cars toppled over completely. Three of them were LPG cars containing residual amounts of liquid propane. An out-of-town spokesman for CSX Rail says the cars did not leak so there was no threat to public safety. Cheektowaga emergency crews responded, but did not need to put a Haz-Mat plan into action. Signs posted in the train yard warn people of the use of remote control operated cars. Although an exact cause of derailment is still being investigated, some CSX employees say the new technology is an accident waiting to happen. We have disguised the voice of an engine service employee who asked to remain anonymous, "These remote controls have been shoved down our throat. They think they're more efficient, more effective, more safe. Well, you can see how safe they are." The CSX employee says there have been several accidents around the country involving remote control train cars, many involving injury. He says CSX officials refuse to acknowledge it, "They think it's more safe than a two man job which is completely ridiculous. This is another accident that will more than likely be shoved under the rug." Tuesday, February 10, 2004 © 1997-2010 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen

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