nycoolbreez posted:The switch was padlocked in place when investigators arrived.
That procedure is by rule, i.e. the hand-throw switch mechanism MUST be locked, no mater what position it is in. Besides, the persons "switch key" can NOT even be removed from the lock, unless the lock is re-locked.
Is it someone’s job to focus their eyeballs onto the switch before they report the switch position?
You would think! But as mentioned above, sh*& happens! The sad thing is, the entire CTC signal system was not working in that area (it was in a Signal Suspension for work involved with installing PTC), thus the Amtrak train got no restrictive signal indication that the switch was miss-aligned.
