Amtrak News

December 2002 News

May 1, 2003- Amtrak Turns 32

Amtrak Today Celebrates its 32nd Birthday. Amtrak operations began on May 1, 1971 when Clocker #235 departed New York Penn Station, bound for Philadelphia. Happy Birthday to Amtrak from Amtrak Online- an Unofficial Amtrak Website!!!

January 2003 News

May 7, 2003- Amtrak train #91, The Silver Star derails in Liberty County, Georgia on May 6.

Yesterday, train #91 the Silver Star, en route from New York to Miami, hit a log truck at a grade crossing in Huntsville, Georgia at 7:20 a.m. EDT. Huntsville is approximately 26 miles nort of the Jesup, Ga Amtrak Station. 22 passengers and 5 crew members were injured. The train carried a total of 150 passengers and 22 crew members. The Truck Driver was killed on Impact, and the Engineer, Larry Wayne Edenfield was crittically injured. Sadly, Edenfield passed away this afternoon, while in Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, Ga, with his family. Edendfield, who lived in Macclenny, Fla, and was a 30-year railroad veteran, working for Amtrak for 17 years. Of the injured, approximately 19 passengers and 4 crew members were treated and released at Liberty Medical Center. Two Passengers were treated at Winn Army Hospital in at Fort Stuart, GA. A third passenger was was transported to St. Jospeh Hospital in Savannah. The uninjured passengers were taken to the Charles M. Schumann Recreation Center in Hinesville, GA, where the Amtrak Customer Care Team arraged for alternate transportation, lodging, and other needs.
All cars on the train derailed but remained upright. The Consist was a follows (Courtesy Gene Poon/Trainorders.com and All-Aboard Groups, as well as "Mundo"/Trainorders):
199 P-42 Diesel Locomotive (Mundo)
1726 Heritage Baggage Car, Phase IV (ex-coach)
2516 "Pine Shore" Heritage Dorm Lounge Phase IV
62011 "Gulf View" Viewliner Sleeper Phase IV
62013 "Harvest View" Viewliner Sleeper Phase IV
8519 Heritage Diner Phase III
28000 "Miami Club" Amfleet II Lounge Phase IV
25047 Amfleet II Coach Phase VI
25085 Amfleet II Coach Phase VI
25078 Amfleet II Coach Phase VI
25075 Amfleet II Coach Phase IV

The train was travelling at 78 m.p.h., one mile below the authorized track speed. The accident occured at a crossing marked by a standard X-Shape Railroad warning sign on the CSX owned track. Passengers from the other Silver Service trains are being bussed between Jacksonville and Savannah. The Auto Train, which operates between Lorton, Virgina and Sanford, Florida was cancelled yesterday. Friends and relatives of passengers and crewmembers of train 91 may call 1-800-523-9101 for information.

March 2003 News

May 9, 2003- Amtrak trains to honor fallen engineer.

Tomorrow, at 3:00 p.m. EDT, Amtrak trains will sound a single, long horn blast to honor Larry Wayne Ednefield, who died on Wednesday, after sustaining injuries when the Silver Star #91 hit a truck. The accident occured in Hinesville Ga, approximately 26 miles north of Jesup. The nationwide moment of remembrance is scheduled to coincide with Mr. Edenfield's memorial ceremony in MacClenny, Fla. Edenfield was a 30-year railroad veteran who worked with amtrak for 17 years. The Derailed train carried 14 crew members and 150 passengers.