Railroad Accident Report - Side Collision of Norfolk and Western Railway Company's Train No. 86 with Extra 1589 West Near Welch, West Virginia, September 6, 1980

摘要

About 8:10 a.m., on September 6, 1980, while operating on the westbound main track, near Welch, West Virginia, eastbound Norfolk and Western Railway Company (N&W) freight train No. 86 collided with the sixth car of N&W Extra 1589 West. The accident occurred while Extra 1589 West was moving from the westbound main track on to an auxiliary center passing track at the east switch of the Farm Interlocking. The engineer, fireman, and front brakeman of train No. 86 were killed. Damage was estimated at $1,446,553. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of the head-end crew of train No. 86 to reduce the speed of the train in compliance with the indication of the signal which displayed an approach aspect, which made it impossible for the fireman to stop the train short of the East Farm interlocking home signal when it was seen to be displaying a stop-and-stay aspect.