On May 16, 2007, at 3:08 a.m. (PDT), a Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) freight train ISEG3-15 (southbound) collided with a UP freight train IBASE-15 (northbound). The collision was a raking type collision which occurred as the northbound train was operating through a crossover from Main Track No. 1 to Main Track No. 2. The lead locomotive of the southbound train, collided into the side of the 87th multi-unit intermodal car near the rear of the northbound train. Both trains were operating on BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) owned and operated trackage. As a result of the collision, four locomotives and two multi-unit intermodal cars of the southbound train derailed. The two leading locomotives went over an embankment and stopped at the edge of a nearby county road in upright positions. The two trailing locomotives derailed but remained on the railroad right-of-way in upright positions. Two multi-unit intermodal cars of the northbound train and two multi-unit intermodal cars of the southbound train derailed. The accident occurred on the BNSF Northwest Division, Seattle Subdivision, Nisqually station, milepost 24.5. Nisqually is located about four miles southwest of Du Pont, Washington, and about 50 miles south of Seattle. There was no hazardous material release and there were no injuries or fatalities. Damages are reported to be $2,312,626. At the time of the collision, it was dark, clear, and the temperature was 45 degrees F. The probable cause was failure to comply with automatic block or interlocking signal displaying a stop indication (H221). A contributing factor was the failure to comply with restricted speed in connection with the restrictive indication of a block or interlocking signal (H605). Another contributing factor cause was reduced human performance of the southbound train crew due to fatigue.


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    Title :

    Federal Railroad Administration, Office of Safety Headquarters Assigned Accident Investigation Report HQ-2007-29, Union Pacific (UP), Nisqually, Washington, May 16, 2007


    Publication date :

    2007


    Size :

    10 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English