National Transportation Safety Board Railroad Accident Report: Collision Between Two BNSF Railway Company Freight Trains Near Gunter, Texas, on May 19, 2004.

摘要

About 5:46 p.m., central daylight time, on May 19, 2004, two BNSF Railway Company freight trains collided head on near Gunter, Texas. The southbound train, BNSF 6789 South, was traveling about 37 mph, and the northbound train, BNSF 6351 North, was traveling about 40 mph when the collision occurred. The trains were being operated under track warrant control rules on non-signaled single track. The collision resulted in the derailment of 5 locomotives and 28 cars. About 3,000 gallons of diesel fuel were released from the locomotives and resulted in a fire. The southbound train engineer was killed, and the southbound train conductor was airlifted to a hospital in Dallas with serious burns. The crewmembers on the northbound train were transported to a local hospital, where they were admitted. Estimated property damages exceeded $2 million. The safety issues discussed in this report are the issuance of track warrant authority that contains an after-arrival stipulation and the informal communication of proposed meeting locations for trains in non-signaled territory. As a result of its investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board makes safety recommendations to the Federal Railroad Administration, the BNSF Railway Company, the Association of American Railroads, and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.