limiting the vessel's movement After extensive maneuvering of the MAUVILLA's engines and rudders, he was able to free the towboat from its position between the bank and the port string of barges. The captain ordered the deckhands to release the towboat from the tow (the four barges that remained together), maneuvered the MAUVILLA to the port side of the tow, and pushed all six barges into the bank. Leaving the barges pushed into the northeast bank, he moved the towboat toward the fire.
Meanwhile, the assistant conductor (after broadcasting the Mayday transmission) and the train attendant had started toward the front of the train, and the conductor headed toward the rear. The assistant conductor said he planned to send passengers back to the conductor for evac— uation When he reached the front of the train, the assistant conductor saw that the center section of the bridge was missing and that two cars were in the water below him. He also saw other cars on fire, the lead locomotive unit nose down in the water, and a locomotive unit next to it burning
The OBS supervisor and three OBS crewmembers (the other eight OBS crewmembers were in the dorm—coach, which was burning on the east side of the bayou) began evacuating the cars that remained on the bridge. They told the passengers to remain calm and evacuated them to the tracks at the rear of the train. The assistant conductor asked whether any medical practi— tioners were on board, a passenger who was a nurse responded, volunteering to provide first aid at the rear of the train
The assistant conductor returned from the front of the train and went to the east bank of the bayou. He radioed the mechanical department rider, who was in one of the cars on the bridge, and directed him to help set up a relay system in the water with passengers who could swim. The assistant conductor instructed passengers participating in the relay to space themselves "about 20 yards apart" and to "swim out and meet these elderly people [who were evacuating from submerged cars] and swim them to the next guy and so forth, on up to the bank". The relay passed people from the middle of the waterway to the west bank of the bayou.
According to passengers in the totally submerged car (coach 34068), the lower level and front section of the car filled with water in seconds, limiting the time passengers in those sections had to evacuate. The center and rear sections on the upper level remained out of the water for about 10 minutes, and passengers evacuated through the open rear door and window exits on the upper level
The assistant conductor told passengers atop the coach that was partially submerged and sinking (coach 34083) to swim to the east bank toward the rear of the train. Passengers inside this coach stated that the lower level and rear of the car filled with water in seconds, limiting the evacuation time for passengers in those sections. Bridge timbers held the upper level and front of the car out of the water, passengers in those sections evacuated through the window exits on the upper level in about 30 minutes
Six OBS crewmembers evacuated from the dorm—coach, which was on fire They entered the water, were rescued by the crew of the towboat MAUVILLA, and then helped passengers
