Kismet Wreck

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

I see that the NTSB still does not have a report for the Kismet wreck (June 2006) on its website. I wonder what is taking so long for this report.

I heard that a rule of thumb is that it usually takes the NTSB about a year to finish an investigation and write a report. From looking at the more recent accidents, it appears that it now takes about two years.

2

Not all railroad incidents result in NTSB investigations. Not all NTSB investigations result in NTSB reports. Not all NTSB reports are published. Call or email the NTSB and they can tell you what they did and what they intend to do or have already done. Given there were no fatalities, no passengers, no hazmat release, and the probable cause is neither indicative of a new trend nor unusual, the NTSB may have seen no reason to investigate in detail.

Here’s the FRA report:

http://www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/safety/Accident_Investigation/2006/hq200648v.pdf

RWM

3

Thanks

4

I noticed that the report stated that Crew #1 had not endorsed the signals called in the accident area on thier Switch Awareness Form…I wasn’t aware that crews are required to place any more than information concerning their handling of Main Track hand throw switches on the form. Is this a BNSF only requirement?

5

yes BNSF has what they call signal awareness forms for any signaled territory and we keep a record of position of switches only if we are in TWC or ABSTWC territory.

6

The UP uses a conductor’s report form where signal indications more restrictive than clear, delays, defect detector responses and, where required hand operated switch information.

Missing entries is a nice way of saying the person maintaining the log wasn’t alert and attentive.

Jeff