Collision Between Two BNSF Railway Freight Trains

Collision Between Two BNSF Railway Freight Trains
Red Oak, Iowa
April 17, 2011
DCA11FR002
This narrated animation displays the sequence of events leading up to the eastbound BNSF coal train collision with the rear end of a standing BNSF maintenance of way equipment train. The collision occurred near Red Oak, Iowa on April 17, 2011 at about 6:55 a.m. central daylight time. The animation begins approximately 15 minutes before the collision, when the BNSF maintenance of way equipment train stopped at CP McPherson, and the striking BNSF coal train was proceeding east on the same track about 3.7 miles behind. A series of still images steps through the events until the final minute before impact, which is then shown at real time to the point of impact. The animation then transitions to a post-accident photograph. The photograph was provided by the Red Oak Fire Department.

The top of the screen shows a profile view of the two accident trains with a magnified indication of the elevation. The orange bar on the left side represents the BNSF coal train traveling eastbound, and the yellow bar on the right represents the stopped BNSF maintenance of way equipment train. The grade signal is also indicated. Stars are shown on the profile view to indicate the points where the alerter alarmed.

Text in the middle section of the screen shows the time, along with the speed, throttle position and alerter status of the BNSF coal train.

The bottom of the screen depicts a three-dimensional view of the track ahead from the cab of the BNSF coal train.

This accident reconstruction was based on information obtained from the BNSF coal train event recorders and track geometry provided by BNSF. Weather and visibility at the time of the accident are not shown.