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[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
Okay.

I had been working tons, and we squeeze in a Friday-Sunday trip to Toronto. the train leaves from Windsor (just across the river from detroit) and gets to Toronto 4 hours later. We had bought coach tickets, but waiting at the station I thought maybe I should splurge and get 1st Class. 1st class had a served lunch with silver etc. It isn't that good, but the rituals would help kill time for the kids.

I went to the ticket window, and the agent said he could sell me upgrades, but recommended I pass since it would be late to get the meals on the train. As we board the engineer is waving the 1st class people left to the forwardmost car and the rest of us to the 3 rear cars. There is a bit of inverted Sophie's Choice for me with this memory since he died AND the 1st Class car was not where you wanted to be.

Anyway, we get on and grab the end section of the next to the last car. You know the end where there are 2 opposed benches facing each other? We are in those, with wife across from me, and kid across from kid.

Another engineer comes by and tells us and the people on the other side of the aisle the emergency instructions- these sections are apparently the emergency exits. Anyways, in the event of an emergemcy, IF the door won't open, there is a hammer to smash out the window.

We start out, and it's uneventful- I remember that there was a garbage bag next to my daughter and she wouldn't let her brother put some garbage in it, and I said "K. you won't even share your garbage bag?" we all laughed, it was good to be getting away.

A few minutes later I could feel the train was turning as if we had taken a turn too quickly- it was only a few seconds, but I looked in wife's eyes and we had the same thought "This really isn't right". then SLAM.

We found out later that someone had left a switch to move a train onto a siderail rather than passing throught this small town. Our train hit the switch way too fast and derailed. The engine slammed into a loaded car of fertilizer that was on the side rail. The engineers were killed.

My daughter had flown across the section and body slammed her brother. He was used to that so no big deal. I remember he was crying "J. are you crying because you're hurt, or because you're scared?" " "i'm crying because I'm scared." Cool.

It turns out sitting in the "opposed bench" section is the right choice. People who were in a seat with a seat in front of them smashed into the seat in front. Lots of broken noses, arms and legs on our car.

The guy across the aisle smashes out the window, and I remember we should try to get the dood open first. So we try the door and it opens.

We get out and people are being herded into this large shed- it was raining. Down the track I could see another train headed the opposite way. One of the engineer's last acts was to warn that train to stop as it would be coming up on an accident across the tracks.

Outside it looked much worse then it turned out. The engine had it's top peeled back like a can. The 1st Class car was flat on it's side. My car was only slightly tilted, but I figured there would be dozens of dead in the 1st Class car. Second pointer DON'T be in the first car in a train. All bad problems occur at the front.

As we were sitting there I was really devastated. I assumed my kids would be traumatized, really fucked up, by this. And as we were waiting the really injured were just beginning to be pulled out of the car. I really did not want my kids to be seeing the really injured.

People were told there was a community center a few KM away and we should walk there if we could. I had walked into the town (Thamesville) to look for a car rental, because, as I said, I wanted to get my family very far from there quickly. No car rental in Thamesville.

As we were walking with our baggage and old lady stopped her car and offered us a ride to the community center. I asked her if she would drive us to Chatham (20 minute) and to a car rental place. she did- angel of mercy.

We were driving on the 401 past Thamesville by the time the first radio stories came out.

That night I got a call at our hotel from my parents. The OPP (the Police) had called them to find out where we were- head check I guess. when my parents told them I'd rented a car the cop made some smart ass comment about Type A American all concerned about missing the theatre and having to drive instead of waiting. The guy missed the point which was to get out. I think getting out made it much less of a traumatic thing for the kids.

the other passengers ended up waiting at the center for 4 or 5 hours then took a bus to Toronto.

4 or 5 hours with a bunch of bandaged people? Fuck no.

Don't you think this is a little redundant when ppnyc is posting?