On September 25, 2013, BNSF Railway train BLACWSP223A struck the rear end of standing
BNSF train SLHTLPC223A near Amarillo, Texas. Several cars derailed and fell across the adjacent track. Approaching BNSF westbound train ZWSPSBD724L struck the derailed cars. The engineer and the conductor of one of the trains recalled passing signals warning them of the train ahead. However, the signal at milepost 543.65 was not lit because the bulb had burned out. Had the bulb not been burned out, the signal would have displayed a red aspect, which would have required them to stop the train before proceeding at restricted speed. When they passed this signal, neither crewmember noticed the dark signal. The engineer stated that he thought the dim headlight from the rear end locomotive helper unit was an approaching train on the adjacent track. The conductor thought the headlight had a yellow cast to it and was a wayside signal. Neither crewmember thought the headlight was on the rear of a standing train. Five of the six involved train crewmembers received injuries and were hospitalized. Estimated damage was
$4.4 million.
We determined that the probable cause of the accident was the failure of the 7891 East train crew to comply with the requirement to stop and proceed at restricted speed when encountering a dark or improperly displayed signal. Contributing to the accident was the use of a dim headlight to indicate the rear end of the standing train, which the 7891 East engineer misinterpreted as the headlight of an opposing train on the adjacent track and the conductor misinterpreted as an upcoming yellow signal. Also contributing to the accident was the lack of a positive train control system that could have prevented the accident
As a result of the investigation, we made safety recommendations to the Federal Railroad Administration and BNSF Railway.
