On the Toledo Division between Toledo and Elkhart. Double-track TCS territory and tangent track for 67 miles from NASBY (west end of Air Line Jct. to Butler, IN)
Train NY-12 (3 units & 73 cars) Dp. ELK @ 9:15 PM while Train BM-7 (4 units & 113 cars) Dp. TOL @ 10:30PM. Both trains approached the accident site on Tk. 2, and the Dispatcher had lined CP-327 to have BM-7 cross to Tk. 1. BM-7's Engr. called on the radio for the eastbound @ Archbold to stop as it appeared to have passed CP-327, but there was no response.
NY-12 had not varied speed, braking, horn or headlight since passing Bryan (16 miles west). Collision speed was about 35mph for each train. All 7 units and 28 cars were derailed, the fuel tanks ruptured and fuel ignited; both head-end crews were killed, and damages were estimated at about $1,400,000.
Ironically, the NTSB Report noted that the accident may have been prevented had there been a train-stop system, something which the FRA had allowed the PC to abandon c. 1970.
Train NY-12 (3 units & 73 cars) Dp. ELK @ 9:15 PM while Train BM-7 (4 units & 113 cars) Dp. TOL @ 10:30PM. Both trains approached the accident site on Tk. 2, and the Dispatcher had lined CP-327 to have BM-7 cross to Tk. 1. BM-7's Engr. called on the radio for the eastbound @ Archbold to stop as it appeared to have passed CP-327, but there was no response.
NY-12 had not varied speed, braking, horn or headlight since passing Bryan (16 miles west). Collision speed was about 35mph for each train. All 7 units and 28 cars were derailed, the fuel tanks ruptured and fuel ignited; both head-end crews were killed, and damages were estimated at about $1,400,000.
Ironically, the NTSB Report noted that the accident may have been prevented had there been a train-stop system, something which the FRA had allowed the PC to abandon c. 1970.