BREAKING NEWS - Amtrak train rear ends freight in Chicago

Trains Magazine General Discussion
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BREAKING NEWS - There has been a collision between an Amtrak train and a container train in Chicago at the (roughly) intersection of 48th. and Shields. Video shown on television indicates the Amtrak train (no train ID number yet) appears to have rear ended a standing container train and the Amtrak engine (number 8) climbed up on and came to rest on the rear end car of the container train. No reports of injured yet, but I saw on the live video feed some passengers climbing off of the Amtrak train under their own power from passenger cars, none of which appeared to have derailed…no report on the engineer although the condition of the engine appears to be such that he likely survived but perhaps with some injuries. The location of the crash is on the near south side of Chicago along the Dan Ryan Expressway so I am guessing the Amtrak train was coming from or going to a location in either Michigan or Southern Illinois (perhaps Campaign or points south). Here is a still picture of the engine sitting on the rear most container car from video on WLS television feed. More information to follow as received.

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UPDATE - Reporting five serious injuries and up to 100 minor injuries on Amtrak train

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UPDATE - Reports are this was Amtrak train 371 coming from Grand Rapids, MI. Also reported that about 150 passengers were on board the train.

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From the video I saw that looks like the east end of the St. Charles air line on the IC very close to where it joind the main south of McCormack Place.

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Who owns the tracks there? They ran up the back end of an intermodal in what ABC is calling it a transfer yard.

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Based on what I could find online, that looks like NS tracks…just confirmed by ABC.

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Baltimore has it now…

Website:\ webcast:

http://wjz.com/

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I saw it on wgn news out of chicago.hope everyone heals quickly.

stay safe

joe

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They are probably at the lead onto the IC. I retract my statement that it is on the IC. There is no catenary on the adjoining tracks.

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Isn’t that Chicago Belt Railway there?

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The accident occurred inside the NS 47th/51st Street intermodal rail terminal yard.

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OK, thanks!

I was having a hard time visualizing where it was.

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The AP and Crain’s are reporting that the 5 injured are Amtrak employees that were on the engine. Curious.

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Video footage from Chicago 2 television station.

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The location is about one mile west of Englewood on the old PRR trackage to Union station. Its within a mile of where the express lanes end on the Dan Ryan and about where the el tracks cross the Dan Ryan on that goofy double bridge set up.

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Here we go again ! ! New Flash, without checking facts ! ! !

ABC News reports an Amtrak train struck the back of a “Conrail” freight. The Amtrak Engine appears to be on top of a “Box Car” in the freight train.

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Remember if you hear it on the news it is probably wrong.

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The AP said it was a “red box car”. They did get the color of that container right anyhow.

George

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Gotta remember those reporting the news are not railfans and will not have all the facts straight, particularly at the beginning of an accident such as this.

ed

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I watched the coverage on the live internet feed from ABC Channel 7 for about 2 hours (even after the broadcast went back to the normal programming). They talked about signalling and the helicopter panned up and down the tracks behind the train trying to find the last signal tower. They were never able to spot it. In all the pictures they showed I can easily see why the engineer might not have the brakes sooner. Coming around that small dog leg, I’ll bet from the cab it looked like the stopped train was on the adjacent track.

Some of the views showed a train on the third track too. A double stack. When I saw it the end was almost even with the one that got hit. It might have been a factor in the “view” the engineer had also.