[ihc] RE: To tell the truth....

[scoutdude@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

TRE;
 I don't know what passenger trains are limited to 45 mph, but it sure isn't 
Amtrak. I have personally clocked Amtrak trains at 79 mph on certified police 
radar, on more than one occasion. My understanding after working several 
vehicle vs. train crashes is that the speed limit is somewhat dependent on the 
track conditions (some tracks have as low as 15 mph speed limit), but other 
tracks are 'high speed' and on those the speed limit is 80 mph. I've never 
seen a freight train going as fast on those same tracks as the Amtrak, so I 
have to assume for the freights the limit is quite a bit lower- probably about 
the 60 mph you mentioned.
Dennis



Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2003 00:52:56 -0600
From: "T.R.E.Jr." <T_R_E_Jr@domain.elided>
Subject: [ihc] Re: To tell the truth

- ---If it makes you feel any better, the legal maximum speed limit a cargo
(government) train can be going is 60 mph. So regardless of what he said it
could be going on the track, if no laws were being broken, the train could
have been traveling closer to what you said. Just thought I would pass that
lil' tid-bit of info regarding transportation laws.

- ---FWIW, the speed limit for passenger trains is 45 mph.