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The passenger compartments were equipped with airline-type seats. Trays were attached to the back of each seat to accommodate passenger needs. The seats were equipped with reclining backs, similar to those found in theaters, which automatically return to the upright position when the seats are not in use.
Stainless-steel baggage racks were attached to the bulkheads lengthwise above the windows. The windows consisted of two panes of "Thermopane" glass, separated by a narrow air space. The exterior pane was 5/16-inch thick and the interior 1/4-inch thick. There was one emergency window with a quick—action pull handle in each passenger compartment. Sliding doors, which opened and closed automatically, provided entry to the cars.
Vehicle Damage
Dumptruck — A postcrash inspection of the truck on the day following the accident did not identify any safety—related defects which had occurred before the collision.
The primary damage incurred by the truck included deformation of the left side of the cab roof, deformation of the left side of the dump body, deformation of the right front fender and bumper, and displacement of the windshield. (See Figure 4.)
Turbotrain — The leading power car was not damaged. Impact damage to the second car was restricted to the left rear side of the car. (See Figure 5.) The damaged area was 24 feet 6 inches long, about 6 feet high, and about 8 inches deep at its deepest point. Two double-pane windows were shattered completely and a third had only its outer pane shattered. In the area of impact, the floor was deformed slightly, a pair of seats had rotated partially, and a folding tray was deformed to the right. The floor and seats were littered with broken window glass. There were no signs of side or roof panel buckling or deformation of the overhead baggage racks.
The third car was damaged at its left front corner. At that point, the lower-outside paneling had been crinkled and had been marked with horizontal striations, and the window was broken. The left front corner of the car was crushed beginning about 8 feet above the top of rail and extending upward for 21 feet. Some additional deformation occurred just above that crushed area.
Both the second car and third were covered with asphalt in the areas which were struck by the truck. Air and electric lines which connected the second and third cars were broken.
