UNION PACIFIC TRAIN ACCIDENTS

---

Synopsis

Amtrak train No. 25, consisting of 3 locomotive units, 2 baggage cars, and 7 passenger cars, derailed the 2^nd and 3^rd locomotive units and all 9 cars near milepost (MP) 528.5 on the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) in Granite, Wyoming, at 3:45 p.m., mountain standard time, on January 13, 1997, The train was traveling at a recorded speed of 59 mph in 70-mph territory when the derailment occurred.

Twenty of the 109 passengers, 3 of the 12 on-board-service personnel, and 1 of the 5 operating crewmembers sustained minor injuries.

The investigation revealed that the derailment occurred at a broken rail located just west of a spring frog on No. 1 main track. A portion of the west end of the rail had a weld about 11 ½ inches long on the running surface (head) of the rail, and the gauge face of the head had also been welded in order to match it with the rail to which it was attached. The welded area broke out under the movement of train No. 25, causing the derailment.

A metallurgical examination of the broken rail and weld indicated that the weld was of "poor quality." The weld material on the gauge face of the rail did not penetrate properly because the rail was not properly preheated before welding. UP officials stated that welds made to rail ends are routine repairs and as such there were no written records regarding when the weld was made or who performed the task. Local UP officers and welders could not recall when the weld was made.

The track in the accident area had been visually inspected by a track inspector several hours before the derailment and no defects were noted. The condition that that led to the failure of the weld was an internal condition, and would not have been apparent during a visual inspection. The rail had been inspected by a rail defect detector car on December 16, 1996, and no internal defects had been noted during that inspection.

Injuries to Persons

INJURY TABLE

Damage

The costs associated with the accident were $1,706,651.

Issue

• Improper preheating techniques prior to welding on rail.