NTSB -- NTSB ISSUES UPDATE ON RAILROAD ACCIDENT IN IOWA

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NTSB ADVISORY

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National Transportation Safety Board

Washington, DC 20594

May 3, 2011

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NTSB ISSUES UPDATE ON RAILROAD ACCIDENT IN IOWA

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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) today

released the following preliminary information as part of

its ongoing investigation into a rear end collision between

two BNSF Railway trains.

On Sunday April 17, 2011 at approximately 6:55 a.m. (CDT) an

eastbound BNSF coal train collided with the rear end of a

standing BNSF maintenance of way equipment train near Red

Oak, Iowa. The accident, which resulted in the death of two

railway workers, occurred at milepost 448.3 on the number

two track on the Creston subdivision of the BNSF Nebraska

Division.

The coal train, designated as C-BTMCNM0-26A, BNSF 9159 East,

consisted of 130 loaded coal cars. It weighed 18,529 tons

and was 7,122 feet long with two locomotives on the head end

and one locomotive on the rear end.

The maintenance of way equipment train, designated as U-

BRGCRI5-15G, BNSF 9470 East, consisted of 21 loaded cars and

13 empty cars. It weighed 2,635 tons and was 3,170 feet long

with one locomotive on the head end.

As a result of the collision, the two lead locomotives of

the coal train along with the first two coal cars derailed.

Seven additional coal cars were damaged in the accident and

following the collision, the cab of the lead locomotive

caught fire. Both the engineer and conductor in the lead

locomotive of the coal train were fatally injured.

With regard to the standing maintenance of way equipment

train, nine cars were derailed due to the collision. The two

crew members on the locomotive of the maintenance of way

equipment train were not injured.

The event recorder and forward facing video camera on the

leading locomotive of the coal train were damaged in the

collision and subsequent fire. Both recorders were retrieved

and are being analyzed at the NTSB's lab in Washington, DC.

The video camera was too badly damaged to retrieve data.

A preliminary review of the locomotive event recorder data

indicates that just before the collision, train speed

increased and the throttle was decreased as the train

reached the top of a hill west of the accident site. The

data also indicates that the speed at impact was 23 mph and

that the emergency brakes were not applied before impact.

During the on-scene investigation, NTSB investigators tested

the signal system and the undamaged coal cars. The equipment

satisfactorily met test criteria. Trains in this area

operate on wayside signal indications visible to the crew.

Signal system data indicate that the last signal encountered

by the coal train was set at "restricting." This indication

required that the train be prepared to stop short of another

train.

The crew of the struck train reported that visibility at the

time of the collision was good. Investigators conducted

sight distance observations under similar daylight and

weather conditions. The observers were able to identify the

standing train about 1,376 feet from the point of collision.

As the investigation continues, investigators will review

personnel, maintenance and various other records. In

addition, crew cell phone records have been subpoenaed and

will be reviewed by investigators.

Finally, the NTSB has formed a work group which will examine

the crash performance of the leading locomotive where crew

members were fatally injured.

Parties to this investigation are the Federal Railroad

Administration, the BNSF railroad, Electro Motive Diesel

(the manufacturer of the lead locomotive), the Brotherhood

of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the United

Transportation Union.

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Media contact:

Keith Holloway

202-314-6100

hollowk@xxxxxxxx

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