Derailment of Amtrak Tran No. 12 and Sideswipe of Amtrak Train No. 79
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PB97-917002 NTSB/SIR-97/01 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20594 RAILROAD SPECIAL INVESTIGATION REPORT DERAILMENT OF AMTRAK TRAIN NO. 12 AND SIDESWIPE OF AMTRAK TRAIN NO. 79 ON PORTAL BRIDGE NEAR SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY, NOVEMBER 23, 1996 6813B Abstract: On November 23, 1996, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) train No. 12 derailed while crossing Portal Bridge, a swing bridge spanning the Hackensack River in Secaucus, New Jersey. When the train derailed, it sideswiped Amtrak train No. 79, which was crossing the bridge in the opposite direction on an adjacent track. No fatalities resulted, but 42 passengers and crewmembers aboard train No. 12 were injured, as was 1 passenger aboard train No. 79. Estimated cost of the damaged train, track, and signal equipment and site cleanup exceeded $3.6 million. The safety issues discussed in this report are (1) Amtrak management oversight of the inspection, maintenance, and repair of the miter rail assemblies on Portal Bridge; and (2) the effectiveness of Amtrak’s emergency notification procedures. The report also examines the effectiveness of Amtrak locomotive event recorders in capturing critical operational data. As a result of its investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board issued safety recommendations to Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Association of American Railroads, and the American Short Line Railroad Association. The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent Federal agency dedicated to promoting aviation, railroad, highway, marine, pipeline, and hazardous materials safety. Established in 1967, the agency is mandated by Congress through the Independent Safety Board Act of 1974 to investigate transportation accidents, determine the probable causes of the accidents, issue safety recommendations, study transportation safety issues, and evaluate the safety effectiveness of government agencies involved in transportation. The Safety Board makes public its actions and decisions through accident reports, safety studies, special investigation reports, safety recommendations, and statistical reviews. Information about available publications may be obtained by contacting: National Transportation Safety Board Public Inquiries Section, RE-51 490 L’Enfant Plaza, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20594 (202) 314-6551 Safety Board publications may be purchased, by individual copy or by subscription, from: National Technical Information Service 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, Virginia 22161 (703) 487-4600 RAILROAD SPECIAL INVESTIGATION REPORT Adopted: December 18, 1997 Notation 6813B NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD Washington, D.C. 20594 CONTENTS CONTENTS ..............................................................................................................................iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .........................................................................................................v INVESTIGATION......................................................................................................................1 Synopsis......................................................................................................................................1 Preaccident Events ......................................................................................................................1 The Accident ...............................................................................................................................4 Survival Factors...........................................................................................................................6 Emergency Response............................................................................................................6 Emergency Preparedness ......................................................................................................7 Injuries ........................................................................................................................................7 Damages .....................................................................................................................................8 Personnel Information..................................................................................................................8 Traincrews............................................................................................................................8 Portal Bridge Operator .........................................................................................................8 Bridge and Building Electrician.............................................................................................8 Train Information ........................................................................................................................8 Train No. 12.........................................................................................................................8 Train No. 79.........................................................................................................................8 Signal Information.......................................................................................................................8 Site Description...........................................................................................................................9 Portal Bridge........................................................................................................................9 Track and Special Trackwork ...............................................................................................9 Postaccident Inspection .............................................................................................................12 Preaccident Bridge Inspections ..................................................................................................13 Operations Information..............................................................................................................13 Meteorological Information.......................................................................................................15 Toxicological Information..........................................................................................................15 Tests and Research....................................................................................................................15 Bridge Tests .......................................................................................................................15 Signal Tests........................................................................................................................15 Bridge Event Recorder Information....................................................................................16 Signal System Event Recorder Information.........................................................................16 Locomotive Event Recorder Information............................................................................16 Metallurgical Information ...................................................................................................18 Other Information......................................................................................................................20 Portal Bridge Miter Rail Configuration History...................................................................20 Previous Defects In and Problems With the Miter Rail System............................................21 Amtrak Postaccident Actions..............................................................................................23 Amtrak Locomotive Event Recorders.................................................................................25 iii Throttle Position Recording.........................................................................................25 Cab Signal Aspect Recording.......................................................................................26 Event Recorder Tests and Inspections..........................................................................27 Federal Oversight of Special Trackwork .............................................................................28 ANALYSIS...............................................................................................................................29 General......................................................................................................................................29 The Accident .............................................................................................................................29 Design of Portal Bridge Miter Rail System.................................................................................30 Maintenance of the Miter Rail System........................................................................................30 Inspection of the Miter Rail System ...........................................................................................31 Removal of the Miter Rail Position Detection Circuits ...............................................................32 Emergency Response.................................................................................................................33 Locomotive Event Recorders.....................................................................................................34 Using Traction Motor Current to Indicate Throttle Position................................................34