WASHINGTON — An incorrectly lined switch led to an Aug. 5 collision between a BNSF Railway train and standing railcars at Denver’s Globeville Yard, a collision that seriously injured the train’s conductor, according to a preliminary investigation report from the National Transportation Safety Board.
The incident occurred about 12:11 a.m., when BNSF Train H-LINDEN1-02A, which had originated in Lincoln, Neb., on Aug. 2 with two locomotives and 103 cars, was depositing its cars on two tracks of the yard. After dropping 54 cars on the yard’s track 104, the train pulled past the switch to track 103, then initiated a shoving move with the conductor riding a hopper that was the lead car. As the train reversed, it passed through a crossover switch between tracks 103 and 102 that was lined to take the train into track 102, rather than its intended route. The shoving train collided with standing railcars, derailing three standing cars and five from the train; the conductor was thrown from the shoving move, and the hopper car he had been riding derailed and toppled onto him.
Denver firefighters responded and freed the conductor from the wreckage; a representative of the conductor’s union, SMART-TD, told a Denver TV station his injuries led to amputation of his right leg [see “BNSF worker seriously injured …,” Trains.com, Aug. 5, 2025].
NTSB investigators at the scene reviewed data from the train’s event recorder and inward- and outward-facing cameras, as well as surveillance video cameras; conducted sight distance observations, reviewed radio communications, and conducted interviews. The agency’s ongoing investigation will focus on hazard identification and mitigation strategies, training on proper use of switches to establish track protection, and operating procedures related to shoving movements.
Just after midnight, without a headlight, it would be hard to see a misaligned switch until it is too late.
Another idea is to stop allowing the riding of movements. I recognize that is a pretty radical idea. It does 100% prevent an accident like that, but it reduces/eliminates injury to employees riding the movement. If it was done industry-wide grab irons can the eliminated on most pieces of rolling stock.
It was done with brakeman riding the tops of cars, and running boards were eliminated.
If the body cam (or GoPro) had a direct feed to the engineer that would help with better situational awareness and maybe help prevent such incidents.
Good idea
Maybe the individuals riding the shove needs to have a police officer type body cam to add a additional view point from the end card rolling backwards, as well as the others mentioned. That or a Go-Pro camera on the Conductor or brakeman’s hat would help inf an officer type camera would not. The more information, the better to prevent accidents which unions and railroads surely wouldn’t oppose… or would they and what would that say about real safety?