Fatal Rail Incident Highlights Communications

As a 75-car train carrying tanks cars of flammable alcohol approached Rockford (Ill.) back in 2009, the locomotive crew hadn’t yet been notified that a 10-foot section of trackbed ahead of them had been washed away by heavy rains. In fact, passing motorists had noticed that the railroad tracks were hanging unsupported five feet above rushing water, and dialed 911 to report it to the Winnebago County sheriff’s comm center. But it was 62 minutes before the washout information was relayed to the train crew, at almost the same moment that 17 tank cars derailed and caught fire. A motorist stopped at a nearby crossing died when she tried to escape the growing flames. Now the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has finished collecting factual information about the incident, and has posted it on-line for public review. It includes logging tapes, photographs and transcripts of interviews with Winnebago County sheriff’s and Canadian National train officials. Browse the collection of NTSB documents, including logging tapes and photos.