The point of these map diagrams is mainly for railfans and those interested enough to see what might have happened this morning based on preliminary documentation already made public. I must say, we do all need to hold out for the official NTSB investigation report release to draw conclusions and results on what exactly took place this morning. But with Metrolink and the L.A. County Sheriff's Dept already releasing enough official information this morning, it is somewhat easy to piece together most of what happened with photos, some inside knowledge of the RR territory and a little physics animation. Mainly it is the photos that do the most to see how these series of sad and destructive events took place this morning.


All in all, I post this in the effort to educate others based solely on my observations today. On a personal note, this hits a little too close to home seeing I was born in Glendale, CA, learned to railfan here as an infant under my Dad (a 21 year resident of Glendale), documented Metrolink when it was created and took over this former SP mainline in 1991 and seeing I still come home to enjoy Glendale trackside railfanning when I have the time to get down there. It is ultimately too sad and depressing to hear that this morning's tragedy and resulting injuries and growing fatalities are probably due to one lost indivdual's attempt to take his own life. Selfish, yes. Careless, yes. A coward yes.


My prayers and condolences go out ot the Metrolink passenger victims, the Metrolink crew victims, the UP crew victims and any other people affected by this incident be it family members, co-workers, fire fighters or law enforcement.


-Ryan aka "espeeboy"

on the ex-WP Oakland Sub MP11.2


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DISCLAIMER NOTE:


The following series of events through my created map diagrams and comments are:


- based on published news photos and firsthand knowledge of the Metrolink Valley Subdivision at CP Currier at Glendale, CA


- based on my interpreted recreation of the events that took place on the morning of Wednesday 01.26.05


- not based on any formal NTSB, L.A. Sheriff. Metrolink, Union Pacific RR or any other official agency's investigations


- not for reproduction or republication of any kind


All inquiries can be sent to me, Ryan M. Martin at espeeboy@yahoo.com


This said, here are my thoughts and opinions of what happened this morning at 6:05A at CP Currier on the Metrolink Valley Sub just .5 miles north of Glendale Station. This gathered info is based loosely on the releases from press conferences (i.e. NOT the Media/News T.V. speculation) and mainly Metrolink's press release on their website.