On October 24, 2006, about 5:20 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST), CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSX) through freight Train V30723, consisting of two locomotives, collided head-on with the two locomotives of CSX through freight Train N65721 at milepost (MP) CA 514.8 on the C&O Division, Kanawha Subdivision, near Catlettsburg, Kentucky (KY). Train V30723 was traveling timetable east and Train N65721 was traveling west at the time of the collision. Both trains were being operated by an engineer and conductor. The authority for movement in the area of the accident is signal indication controlled by a Centralized Traffic Control (CTC). Movement authority on this area of trackage is controlled by the AN dispatcher. The engineer and conductor of both trains suffered injuries as a result of the accident and were taken to Kings Daughters Medical Center in Catlettsburg for treatment. The damage to the locomotives was $88,000 and there was no hazardous material railcars involved. At the time of the accident it was dark, the visibility was clear, and the temperature was 35F. The probable cause of the accident was the failure of the train dispatcher to comply with established CSX procedures for trains that are using main track authority and protecting the movements of these trains using his authority. The dispatcher did not apply the proper blocking devices that his computerized dispatching software allows. He failed to properly enter this information into the computer system allowing the two opposing movements to enter the block without proper protection, as required by the CSX Operating Rule 509.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Federal Railroad Administration, Office of Safety Headquarters Assigned Accident Investigation Report HQ-2006-84, CSX Transportation, Catlettsburg, Kentucky, October 24, 2006


    Publication date :

    2006


    Size :

    7 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English