1955 Grade Crossing Collision, Butterfield MO.

Discussion in 'General' started by Ozarktraveler, Jul 31, 2018.

  1. Ozarktraveler

    Ozarktraveler Member

  2. frisco1522

    frisco1522 Staff Member Staff Member

    Wow, a 40 unit train?
     
  3. Ozarktraveler

    Ozarktraveler Member

    That's what the article says...

    Looking forward to the discussion/education I'm about to get. :)
    Which is one of the many things I really enjoy about this forum.
     
  4. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter


    Regardless of one’s opinion regarding media bias, perceived or otherwise, I believe that in general, the news media lack the knowledge about many of the subjects, which they cover, to the point that they are unable to ask pertinent questions. Furthermore, their topical ignorance, often prevents them from drawing logical inferences from questions which may be to the point. I believe that we all may have observed this, when the media report about subjects in which we have expertise.

    So in this case, the caption writer refers to a 40-car train as a 40-unit train. Note also the author opines about the nature of the accident based on the damaged suffered by the locomotive.
     
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  5. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    FWIW: "40 unit train"...

    During that era, that was often the way non RR-ing public referred to a train's car count. For example, in the Sears Christmas Catalogs of the time, train sets were described at "8 unit", "5 unit", etc, referring to the entire train and not just the engines in the consist. One merely need look at online Sears Christmas Catalogs to confirm this.

    Andre
     
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  6. gna

    gna Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Not that I want to derail this topic, but that has been my experience with the media, as well as meeting some reporters. I would say they are a mile wide and an inch deep. That said, Andre raises a good point, and it applies not just to that era, but to the current one, too.
     
    Ozarktraveler likes this.
  7. Ozarktraveler

    Ozarktraveler Member

    Having spent 20+ years at a uranium processing facility that was eventually decommissioned and demolished, I am familiar with that experience and readily agree. It sold newspapers and advertising for both print and broadcast media.
     

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