Report: Train didn't heed stop signal in deadly Panhandle wreck

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Associated Press, via Amarillo Globe-News

Report: Train didn't heed stop signal in deadly Panhandle wreck

Posted: July 14, 2016 - 10:25am

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DALLAS (AP) — A train failed to heed a stop signal before it barreled head-on into another freight train last month in the Texas Panhandle, killing three, according to a preliminary federal report released Thursday.

An eastbound BNSF Railway train failed to slow at a yellow warning signal on June 28 and then continued past a red stop signal before striking an oncoming BNSF train, inspectors for the National Transportation Safety Board said in the report.

The eastbound train, bound for Chicago, was supposed to stop and allow the Los Angeles-bound train to pass. It was traveling just over 60 mph when it passed the yellow signal, though trains are not supposed to travel any faster than 40 mph at a yellow signal so that they can stop in time at a red signal. The train was traveling about 65 mph when it passed the stop signal.

NTSB spokesman Terry Williams said it's not clear how far beyond the stop signal that the point of impact occurred. ... "We're still in the gathering phase of this investigation," he said, adding that a final NTSB report will be released at some point next year. He declined to comment further. ... The collision occurred outside the town of Panhandle, about 25 miles northeast of Amarillo. Each train was carrying two crew members. One jumped to safety, the other three died.

Read more: http://amarillo.com/news/latest-news/2016-07-14/report-train-didnt-heed-stop-signal-deadly-panhandle-wreck

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The NTSB report can be seen at the linked website.

Here is more about that "preliminary federal report released Thursday."

Please keep in mind as you read this and other articles that this is a preliminary report. There is still much to learn.

Thursday, July 14, 2016

NTSB releases preliminary report on BNSF Panhandle collision

Written by Mischa Wanek-Libman, Engineering Editor

One of the trains involved in the June 28 head-on collision between two BNSF intermodal trains outside of Panhandle, Texas passed a red signal before the accident. ... This comes from the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) preliminary report of the incident, which was published July 13.

The report reads, "The signal system was lined to route the westbound train into the Panhandle control point siding at milepost 526.1 while holding the eastbound train on the main track before the east end of the siding.

"Preliminary review of signal event recorder data and tests of the signal system indicate the last signal the eastbound train passed before the collision was a stop (red) signal. The previous signal the eastbound train passed was an approach (yellow) signal.

"A preliminary review of locomotive event recorder data revealed that the eastbound train was traveling about 62 mph when it went by the approach signal at the west end of the Panhandle siding and about 65 mph when it went by the stop signal at the east end of the Panhandle siding.
....

NTSB said the investigation is ongoing and it will supplement or correct information during the course of its investigation. Full report HERE.

Collision of two BNSF trains Executive Summary

Western Railroad Discussion > NTSB preliminary report collision at Panhandle, Texas

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. Wow. In and out at speed.

Every railroader's worst nightmare.

Be safe out there, brothers and sisters.

[Wellstone ruled]

2. Oh boy,not looking good for the

East bounder crew. Plus twenty five past a yellow board,this is going to be expensive.

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. They died in the wreck.

[Wellstone ruled]

5. I know,what I was

referring too is the coming settlements with families. Sure there will be more info as the investigators work their way through the Audio and video recordings. Railroading is a tough life style.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. This is as close as I ever want to get.

You won't be able to watch this without wincing.

Rio is about five miles north of Charlottesville, Virginia. The old Southern Railway mainline through Charlottesville is two main tracks from Rio all the way down to Red Hill.

See page 29 of this track chart.

Amtrak 20 is the northbound Crescent. He has just made his station stop at Charlottesville and is headed north to Orange, Culpeper, Manassas, Alexandria, and Washington, DC. He is on the #1 track, which is closer to the passenger station as the line goes through Charlottesville. There's a southbound freight coming off the single track north of Rio onto the #2 track. Amtrak 20 approaches the northbound absolute signal at Rio at too fast a speed.

The person on the radio refers to the train as Amtrak 19, but it's the northbound Crescent, Amtrak 20.

Again, the NTSB report is preliminary. We know a few things, but we do not know all things.

[CanSocDem]

6. From experience...

...I know that they regulate the 'trucking' industry to death, all in the name of "protecting the public". Every time I hear of another of these train accidents I wonder if they have any regulations at all. Do they monitor the crews health and sleep schedules...???

Maybe more importantly, whose responsibility is it to maintain and repair this so-called public service???

.