WASHINGTON — A conductor who made an incorrect cut during switching, fouling a main track, was killed when a car he was riding on sideswiped the car fouling the main during a subsequent move, the National Transportation Safety Board said in its preliminary report on a fatal accident that occurred June 9, 2025, at Union Pacific’s Nacogdoches, Texas, rail yard.
The incident occurred about 3:26 p.m. local time when a train of two locomotives and five cars was making a shoving move. According to the NTSB report, the accident came shortly after yard’s manager of train operations finished spending most of the day assessing the conductor’s proficiency; the supervisor had been with the conductor as he went about his job from 8:30 a.m. to about 3:10 p.m.
The NTSB’s on-scene investigation included inspecting the railcars and tracks; reviewing footage from surveillance and onboard video, as well as the locomotive event recorder; reviewing radio and phone communications; conducting interviews and a reenactment of the event; and reviewing UP’s training program documentation and company policies and procedures.
The ongoing investigation will focus on conductor training and certification; rules compliance; safety oversight; and operating procedures relating to shoving moves.
The preliminary report on this incident was released just seven days after the final report on another UP fatality during a shoving move. That incident occurred July 6, 2024, at Proviso Yard in suburban Chicago [see “NTSB releases report …,” News Wire, July 2, 2025].
From the times listed above, it would appear it was the first move after being supervised all day. What a tragic set of circumstances for everyone involved.
There seems to be an unfortunate trend of conductors being killed during shoving moves. I don’t quite understand it. Amtrak rules classes always emphasized clearance points and not leaving equipment in the foul. It would seem the freight railroads would do the same. I still work part time switching cars for a car repair facility and I always check my clearance points.