ON THIS DAY: RAILFREIGHT

JULY 10

2005 At about 04:15. two CN freight trains collide head on in Anding, Mississippi. The collision occurred on the CN Yazoo Subdivision, where the trains were being operated under a centralized traffic control signal system on single track. Signal data indicated that the northbound train, IC #1013 North, continued past a stop (red) signal at North Anding and collided with the southbound train, IC #1023 South, about 1/4 mile (1/3km) beyond the signal.

The collision resulted in the derailment of six locomotives and 17 cars. About 15,000 gallons (68,200 litres) of diesel fuel were released from the locomotives and resulted in a fire that burned for about 15 hours. Two crewmembers were on each train; all four were killed. Property damages exceeded $9.5 million; clearing and environmental cleanup costs totaled about $616,800. The NSTB determines that the probable cause of the collision was the failure by the crew of the northbound train (IC #1013 North) to comply with wayside signals requiring them to stop at North Anding. The crew’s attention to the signals was most likely reduced by fatigue. Contributing to the accident was the absence of a positive train control system that would have stopped the northbound train before it exceeded its authorized limits. Also contributing to the accident was the lack of an alerter on the lead locomotive that may have prompted the crew to be more attentive to their operation of the train.

JULY 11

1967 The first major unit train movement in Canada is inaugurated by Canadian Pacific as 3700 tons (3356 tonnes) of sulphuric acid from the Copper Cliff plant of CIL near Sudbury to Sarnia, ON.

JULY 13

2016 The NTSB report into the collision of two BNSF Railway (BNSF) trains on the BNSF’s Panhandle Subdivision is published.

Each train was crewed by a locomotive engineer and a conductor. Eastbound train S-LACLPC1-26K consisted of three head-end locomotives, two distributive power units, and 56 loaded cars, and westbound train Q-CHISBD6-27L consisted of five head-end locomotives and 54 loaded cars. The collision and derailment resulted in a significant fire. Three crew members died in the accident—the engineer and conductor on the eastbound train and the conductor on the westbound train

JULY 14

1831 The John Bull departs Liverpool, England aboard the steamship Allegheny bound for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

JULY 16

1877 Railroad workers on strike in Martinsburg, West Virginia, derail and loot a train; United States Federal troops to break 1945 Canadian National which was built to handle near Atikokan, ON. on the Marquette.

1923 Fruit Growers way form the Western with the Pacific Fruit patch in the west.