The "Explosion" the locals heard was not only the impact but one of the Conrail diesels (GE B36-7 5045) was struck by the Amtrak so hard the kinetic energy passed clean through the cab and into the prime mover ripping it off the frame of the locomotive to the point it literally imploded sending pieces of it everywhere like if you were to hit a CRT TV with a sledgehammer, Even 1 piece managed to somehow land on the radiator roof of the lead Conrail diesel 5044 (Also a B36-7). This also caused the front end of the leading Amtrak locomotive (AEM-7 903) to be totally destroyed to the point only the rear cab end was left of it to the west side of the track, The Amtrak engineer stood no chance and was instantly killed from it. This kinetic energy also continued into the middle engine (5052, Also a B36) causing it's front end to be smashed inward but somehow the frame stayed intact. It's incredible only 16 died. I did a documentary on this for the 30th anniversary and the information I discovered when editing is both sad and shocking.

That poor lady. The PTSD that hit her hearing the train, dang. The emergency personnel did their best and it hurts hearing that they felt like failures because some were alive but they couldn't be reached in time. 16 lost their lives but, not to sound harsh, a lot more would've perished had it not been for them and the townsfolk. Thank you for uploading this episode.

The fact that only 16 passed is truly a miracle

It's a miracle for the people who survived

So sad that 16 people died and so many others had to suffer, thanks to the selfish needs of a train crew to achieve a high.

9:45

Worse feeling for anyone is picking up a decapitated skeleton head off the tracks.

OMG..... This was SOOOO SAD watching this episode of Rescue 911. I was bawling.

This is when people were more caring...

Rescue 911!!! Holy shit! I have missed this show so much.

As for some of the locomotives in this crash, 5045 was totally destroyed and was never rebuilt. Not only that, but both AEM-7s 903 and 900, plus some of the Amfleet I coaches on the front of the consist were also deemed a total loss and scrapped.

The first aem-7 unit was involved in this collision. Sad. Im also sad to hear the passengers and train crew died. It wasnt there fault that those conrail units were there. Also it has been noted that the amtrak was speeding due to having a heritage coach on the train but the conductor didnt tell the engineer that. Regardless of if he had been going slower theres nothing he could have done.

The Chase Maryland Train Disaster was not just a train derailment but it was also an enormous Train Collision to because of the Amtrak Train smashing into the Conrail locomotives at 128 miles per hour and that 16 people were killed and 170 were severely injured, and even that the Conrail Train was traveling at 60 miles an hour instead of 15 mph

I am so lucky I was to be on train that morning to go to New York that day I am glad I over sleeper that day

I'll be praying for them

today is the 31st anniversary of the wreck

love Amtrak train so much