WASHINGTON — A Union Pacific train was going about 48 mph when it was sent onto a yard track from the main line and 35 mph when it hit a parked train at a yard in Chico, Texas, on April 16, according to a preliminary report released Wednesday by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Two crew members were seriously injured in the accident, which occurred about 45 miles north of Fort Worth on UP’s Duncan Subdivision [see “Two injured as UP freight in Texas hits parked train,” Trains News Wire, April 17, 2023].
The collision derailed two locomotives and 12 loaded cars of grain on southbound train GSHFCC 15, along with two locomotives and one empty gondola car on the parked train, RDACO 14. UP estimated the collision caused about $4.9 million in damage to equipment and track infrastructure.
The grain train, with three locomotives — two on the head end and one distributed power unit — and 103 loaded hoppers — was going about 48 mph when it the switch sent it onto yard track C-4. Event recorder data shows the engineer applied emergency brakes before the train reached the switch, but the train was unable to stop before colliding with the parked train.
A preliminary report does not determine probable cause, but sets basic facts of the incident and is subject to change. The NTSB indicates its ongoing investigation will focus on additional crew interviews and examination of industry-wide practices regarding main track switches in non-signaled territory.
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