Figure 2. Train 188 intended route.
The engineer, who was alone in the cab, maintained the train speed near the required 30 mph for the next few miles. In postaccident interviews, the engineer said he was monitoring the radio when he heard an eastbound Southeastern Philadelphia Transportation Authority (SEPTA) train engineer and the train dispatcher discussing an incident in an area he was approaching. During the 6-minute conversation, the SEPTA engineer said his windshield was shattered near the Diamond Street Bridge—an area where people were known to throw rocks and other objects at passing trains. (See figure 3.) The SEPTA engineer said he had glass in his face and had used the emergency brake to stop his train on main track 1. He requested medical attention. (See appendix B for a transcript of radio communications.)
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