WASHINGTON — A Norfolk Southern train that derailed last month in Illinois — spilling hazardous materials and injuring two crewmen — occurred as the train rolled through a spring switch that had just undergone maintenance work, the National Transportation Board said today.
Eastbound NS train 167 derailed at 5:44 p.m. on July 18 near Browns, Ill., on the railroad’s Southern West District, the NTSB’s preliminary report said. The derailed cars collided with westbound 33K, which was holding in the adjacent passing siding. Two tank cars of molten sulfur derailed and breached, releasing some of their contents. Another tank car released about 15 gallons of denatured fuel ethanol.
The engineer trainee aboard the 33K was seriously injured when molten sulfur splashed on him, while the engineer sustained a leg injury, the NTSB said. The engineer trainee was treated on scene and later airlifted to a trauma center. The train’s conductor was not hurt.
“Shortly before the accident, a signal maintainer had conducted work on the spring switch,” the NTSB said. “About 40 minutes later, train NS-167 proceeded through the spring switch, the first train to do so after the maintenance was completed. As the train traversed through this switch, 24 of its railcars derailed.”
Train 167 was moving at 47 mph at the time of the wreck. Both trains had two locomotives and were hauling 44 cars.
“While on scene, National Transportation Safety Board investigators inspected the railcars involved in the accident, examined conditions of the track and signals, reviewed event recorder data from the lead locomotive and the video from inward- and outward-facing image recorders, conducted a reenactment of the accident, tested the spring switch cylinder from the accident switch, and conducted interviews,” the preliminary report said.
The ongoing investigation is focusing on testing and maintenance protocols for spring switches and a review of the collaboration between the railroad’s Signals and Communications and Maintenance-of-Way departments.
The SMART-TD union hailed the engineer trainee, John Hedgepeth, as a hero.
“Brother Hedgepeth acted instinctively to save the life of his engineer by moving him clear of a locomotive ladder just seconds before molten sulfur from a derailed train engulfed their position,” the union said. “He then dove from the nose of his engine to try to get himself clear from the fallout of the derailment. Though his actions undoubtedly saved his life and that of his engineer, Brother Hedgepeth was covered in molten sulfur from one of the derailed cars.”
Hedgepeth, who served in the Marine Corps, suffered third degree burns. “He likely faces a long road to recovery, requiring travel to the nearest burn treatment center located over 150 miles away in Indianapolis,” the union said, encouraging colleagues to donate to a GoFundMe to help assist Hedgepeth and his family.
Praying that Mr. Hedgepeth makes full recovery.