This evening both Stu and I are very tired. It has been a busy day full of trains and news interviews and resident care.
The train derailment was sort of weird, mostly because when I saw it happening I didn't think that it was real. I think that it was mostly that way because Stu has said time and time again that he thought that it would happen.
So here is how the morning started:
Stu and I ate our vanilla yogurt and granola while watching a little Pink Panther cartoon. He then decided to start his day and "go to work" (which is in the other room of the apartment). I then grabbed the computer and started checking email and what not. As I was doing this I knew that I needed to take Daisy out for the morning but still proceeded at the email checking. As the normal sounds of the morning train approached I noticed that it was a little odd, very different. I looked out the window next to me and couldn't believe what I was seeing. There was one car of the train that was moving perpendicular to the tracks. As the car and the cloud of dust traveled on top of the sidewalk I yelled at Stu in the other room. We both jumped up to the window only to realize that the train had derailed and was feet away from the apartment complex! Stu ran to grab his camera and I ran to the next window to see more. As the train was stopping, the perpendicular car was no longer moving, but the car directly behind it was now coming off of the tracks toward the Amtrak Station (on the other side of the tracks). I then grabbed a pair of jeans (because I was wearing my pjs) and ran as fast as I could to the leasing office. Stu went the other direction with his camera and was on the phone with 911. When I got to the office I told the person on staff that the train had derailed! The morning continued for a couple of hours with pictures and news interviews. I was one of the only people that saw the derailment from this side of the tracks, while the other side was viewed by many people at the Station waiting for the Amtrak.
So the picture above with the new crews interviewing:
The original plan was that Stu was going to do the interview with me, but as the news crews were wiring me up Stu quietly backed away. :( But as I started answering their questions I discovered that I was okay and it wasn't that bad. (I hated how they all kept asking the same questions, I had just answered it. (I think it was because there were like 5 cameras and they all wanted to have me look at their camera when I told my eye witness account.
Then after I had a shower I ran to get some cupcakes for the office. While I was out I grabbed a Union Pacific model train and a short set of tracks. On a display dish in the office I set out cupcakes for people and residents that went in the office. ( On the display I set the track and placed the model train on top of the tracks. Later Stu "derailed" the model train.) It was a way to help people relax about the whole situation, after all we are trying to take care of the residents, and it was a stressful morning.
So all in all, we are very thankful that nobody was hurt and there appears to be only surface damage. ( a few up rooted trees, a broken window, damaged sidewalk...) the main apartments that were affected aren't any one's home yet. God was watching out this morning. This could have been very bad, if it had been a full rail car or if it had derailed any sooner the car would have ended up inside the apartment building. Thankfully things were okay. I am very glad that I checked my email and didn't that Daisy out to do her morning business, her spot is the location where the train car ended up. We could have been in her little grassy corner when everything happened.
Crazy day.
I am glad that it is over.
