UPDATE (Oct. 23 2012)
So, no news on why the train I was riding derailed. But on the night of the accident, I was contacted by both the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press.Check out the articles, “A bump, some confused passengers and an Amtrak train that jumped the rails in Michigan” and Nine injured in Amtrak derailment in near Niles.
I also added more photos from the scene into the slide show below.
And just for fun, I challenge you to Caption this:
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This post was published on Oct. 21, 2012
Traveling from Chicago to Detroit, my Amtrak train derailed and skidded to a halt twenty feet from sitting coal cars.
As the train derailed, a loud thunk was felt as I tossed left then right. I wasn’t sure what was happening, but clearly something wasn’t right. Noise rose in the train as it began to grind off the track, crush into the ground and find its way to a permanent stop.
Within 10 minutes, EMS personnel were on the scene to address the injured. I would estimate about six got carried off on stretchers, most however, were uninjured.
There was about an hour of confusion as little information was shared. Upon arrival via a Niles School bus to the Niles Amtrak station, a police officer informed everyone that buses have been sent to transport everyone to Kalamazoo to catch a train to Detroit.
This incident reminded me of the scene with John Candy and Steve Martin in “Planes Trains and Automobiles.”
Lesson learned from just celebrating my 50th birthday, count your blessings each day, you just never know what might happen.
michael j. brennan 