Talk:1966 Great Northern Buelow collision

Updates based on expert insight

I have asked an expert for feedback on this article. Instead of changing the article themselves, that person has left the pen in my hand. To help (me) see the changes since their input was incorporated, compare the content with the the version prior to the beginning of their feedback being added in.

The things that I think need to be changed based on this input are these:

• The Builder carried mail too even if it didn't have a mail car per se; don't make it sound like the Star was the only one carrying mail. The book, Great Northern Empire Builder (already cited in the article) on page 70 says that the Builder "carried passengers, freight, mail and express".
• Make sure the quote about the Star having mail cars doesn't overstate their usefulness in reducing the causally count because that is unsubstantiated.
• The trains were delayed due to snow, but, at the time of the accident, they were running on or close to on time with the updated timetable, according to the ICC report. Be sure the article doesn't make it sound like they were off schedule, leading to haste being a factor in the accident.
• Before bailing out, the engineer of the Builder hit the break, slowing it from the prescribed siding approach speed of 30 miles per hour (48 km/h) to 18 miles per hour (29 km/h). Also, the engineer in the Star hit the break slowing it from 74 miles per hour (119 km/h) to 60 miles per hour (97 km/h). These facts are included in the ICC report; the ICC was able to obtain them from speed recording equipment in locomotives. No source on the this though.
• The lat and lon should be 48.555357, -110.860582, 466 feet (142 m) west of the (current) west switch
• BNSF may have changed the location of the siding over the years, so the milepost should probably not be cited or it should be cited as the present location.
• Upload the ICC report to the Internet Archive or Wikisource and reference it there with page numbers.
• Don't over state alternative theory proposed in the Whitefish Museum exhibit because that lacks cited sources. It is hard to see where witnesses would have come from considering that Buelow has a population of zero and the tracks are well off the US 2. This would leave only passengers on the Star as potential witnesses. That train did not have a dome car, so regular passengers would have had a hard time seeing a signal in front of the train. Train personnel may have had a view, like the brakeman, but none of those are on record saying they saw a green signal.
  • If this source continues to be used, try to get the OK from the Stumptown Historical Society to upload a photo of the exhibit to Wikisource.
• The meaning of "clear" weather in the ICC report is debatable in light of other evidence saying that the area was partially cloudy. Don't overstate the forecast.
• Ask the museum for permission to post their photos or try to find a contact for Mike Cunningham to get his permission to post the photos he's shared on rrpicturearchieve.com|Photos he's shared online. https://dp.la might have photos.
• Don't over rely on newspapers as they were written before all the facts were known.

Marcus T. V. Stassinopolus (talk) 17:43, 3 September 2024 (UTC)