Federal Railroad Administration, Office of Safety Headquarters Assigned Accident Investigation Report HQ-2007-23, Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), Douglas, Wyoming, April 26, 2007

摘要

On Wednesday, April 25, 2007, at 1:26 p.m., MDT, an eastbound BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) loaded coal train derailed. The derailment occurred on the Powder River Division, Orin Subdivision at about milepost 123.5. The location of the derailment is about twelve miles southeast of Douglas, WY. The train consisted of two locomotives on the head end of the train, 128 loaded coal hopper cars, and two locomotives on the rear end of the train. A total of 23 loaded coal hopper cars were involved in the derailment. The derailed cars were the 91st through the 113th car of the train consist. There was no report of injuries, evacuations or release of hazardous materials. The reported estimated damage to equipment is $1,090,197 and track is $125,000. At the time of the accident it was daylight and cloudy. The temperature was 65F. The rail temperature at the time of the derailment was 92 degrees. The probable cause of the derailment is track alignment irregular or buckled track.(T109) The contributing cause of the derailment is Defective spikes or missing spikes or other rail fasteners(T206).