[Cobrabill]

Originally Posted by David Jones

http://www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/saf.../hq200679v.pdf

The accident report. The crew noticed 800ft before they got to the switch that it was incorrectly set. They were going 36mph. They hit the emergency stop and hit the floor. Speed at impact was DOWN to 32mph.

I've gotten off trains at 20 MPH and stayed on my feet.So 36 is a surviveable speed to jump from assuming you have the time to get to the bottom step.And you don't land on anything.
If the cut of cars they hit was short or consisted of empties,they moved or took the brunt of the impact.