4 replies to this topic

[CNJRoss]

WRDW-TV Augusta, GA 8/7/15:

 

Four crew members injured in train derailment, one on life support at Georgia Regents Medical Center

 

WASHINGTON CO., Ga. (WRDW) -- Washington County Sheriff's Office has said four people are injured after two trains are involved in a derailment on Sunhill Grange Road off Highway 242 in Sandersville.

 

The Washington County Sheriff has said two trains on same track came at each other and collided.

 

 

Continue here - "Blog" posting; may have updated information.

[CNJRoss]

WJBF-TV, Augusta, GA 8/7:

 

Four Injured After Trains Collide In Washington County

 

Sandersville, GA – We have learned more information on a Friday afternoon crash in Sandersville, Georgia involving two trains.

 

According to Rick Harris, from Norfolk Southern, the trains involved in the Sandersville, Georgia crash are train #208, out of Atlanta, Georgia that was headed to Savannah, Georgia. The second train was a local industry train that worked in the area hauling wood chips and scrap metal. An undetermined number of cars derailed, and debris from the industry train is scattered onto ground.

 

According to Davisboro (Georgia) Fire-Rescue crews, 2 people were airlifted to Georgia Regents Medical Center. Their conditions are not known, at this time. Two others were taken to hospital in Sandersville. We have found out that they are both in stable condition, but further details are unavailable, at this time.

 

Continue here w/video report and photo album.

[CNJRoss]

NS Service Update:

 

 

Tennille, GA Derailment - Update

Aug 10, 2015

 

Repairs at the Tennille, GA derailment site were completed at 3:00 pm on Saturday August 8^th. There is currently a 30 mph speed restriction in place through the derailment site, so further delays can be anticipated.

The following trains are impacted as noted:

• 232-09 (Atlanta to Savannah) will be picking up the delayed traffic from 208-07
• 208-08 (Austell to Garden City) was annulled and will run delayed freight with the 208-10 as scheduled

In addition to the transit delays, customers should expect heavy volume and congestion to impact the loading and grounding at Garden City Marine Terminal and Savannah Dillard.  Customers should plan for availability delays at destination of at least 24 hours.

 

[CNJRoss]

The Telegraph, Macon, GA 3/21/16:
 

Norfolk Southern Railway sues engineer in 2015 Washington County derailment

 

Norfolk Southern Railway has filed a federal lawsuit against a locomotive engineer that the company alleges negligently caused a 2015 head-on collision and derailment in Washington County.

 

Attempts to reach the engineer, Frederick J. Clark, of Gray, were unsuccessful Monday.

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

This could be an interesting case.  The NTSB has long recommended the railroads discontinue using "after-arrival track authority" in "dark territory."  From an NTSB news release dated Feb 12, 2013

 

Contributing to the accident was CN’s use of after-arrival track authorities in non-signaled territory, a procedure that is vulnerable to human error and lacks safety redundancies. The NTSB noted crew fatigue and inadequate crew resource management also contributed to the accident.

 

“Since 1996, the NTSB has investigated four other head-on collisions where after-arrival track authority was causal,” said Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman. “Relying on a system that depends on error-free human performance for safety is a recipe for disaster.”

 

Related topic:  NTSB: Crew Error Caused 2010 CN Collision in Minnesota

 

The NTSB issued Safety Recommendation R-13-016 to NS and 3 other Class 1 railroads:

 

"Discontinue the use of after-arrival track authorities for train movements in nonsignaled territory not equipped with a positive train control system."

 

None of the 4 railroads has taken "acceptable" action:

 

Canadian Pacific Railway (Closed - Unacceptable Action)
Kansas City Southern Railway Company (Open - Unacceptable Response)
Norfolk Southern Corporation (Closed - Unacceptable Action)
Union Pacific (Open - Unacceptable Response)

 

{Related Safety Recommendation R-13-009 to CN; (Open - Unacceptable Response)}

 

Railroads continue "Relying on a system that depends on error-free human performance .  .  ."

 

-Ross