Collision Between Two BNSF Railway Freight Trains

Board Meeting Animation - Collision Between Two BNSF Railway Freight Trains
Red Oak, Iowa
April 17, 2011

Presented April 24, 2012

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.