From: ahk@chinet.com   
      
   peterwezeman@hotmail.com wrote:   
      
   >In the recent Metro North collision I was surprised to hear that, in   
   >addition to the driver of the car involved,there were five people killed   
   >ON THE TRAIN.  Some questions:   
      
   >1. In designing the iconic FT freight locomotive and E series passenger   
   >locomotives, Electromotive put a hood-like structure on the front   
   >specifically to give some protection to the engineer and fireman in the   
   >event of a collision at a grade crossing, and virtually all subsequent   
   >American locomotives have continued this practice. Is there any   
   >requirement for grade-crossing protection on self-propelled motor unit   
   >passenger cars?   
      
   There are corner post requirements. In Chicago, Nippon Sharyo gallery cars   
   that replaced Highliners in IC suburban service (now Metra Electric) had   
   the cab relocated to the gallery level, else too many passenger seats   
   were lost. This also eliminated a platform door, as the full-across   
   engineer's cab became a vestibule when not in use.   
      
   Keep in mind that corner post requirements and very high American buff   
   strength requirements are designed to keep the passenger car from deforming   
   as much as possible in the event of a collision. Doesn't necessarily   
   keep railroad crew nor passengers alive, as the law of conservation of   
   momentum hasn't been repealed and one is likely to be seriously injured   
   or killed from striking one's head against a bulkhead.   
      
   --- SoupGate/W32 v1.03   
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