National Technical Reports Library

The National Technical Information Service acquires, indexes, abstracts, and archives the largest collection of U.S. government-sponsored technical reports in existence. The NTRL offers online, free and open access to these authenticated government technical reports. Technical reports and documents in its repository may be available online for free either from the issuing federal agency, the U.S. Government Publishing Office’s Federal Digital System website, or through search engines.

Details

Railroad Accident Report: Derailment of Amtrack Train No. 8, The Empire Builder, on Burlington Northern Track, Lohman, Montana, March 28, 1979.

PB299067

Publication Date	1979
Page Count	19
Abstract	About 5:50 p.m. on March 28, 1979, Amtrak train No. 8, The Empire Builder, operating on Burlington Northern track, derailed nine cars at Lohman, Montana. Forty-eight persons were injured in the derailment, and the property damage was estimated to be $333,500. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the cracking from overheating of the right rear wheel on the trailing truck of baggage car 1248. The cracked wheel moved inward off the axle seat and decreased the wheel-to-wheel gage. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate maintenance and inspection of the car, which allowed it to continue in service in violation of minimum safety standards. As a result of its investigation of this accident, the Safety Board made two recommendations to the Burlington Northern concerning equipment inspection procedures and one joint recommendation to the Burlington Northern and Amtrak to insure that inspection and maintenance schedules are maintained, and to be certain they are done efficiently.
Keywords	Railroads Accident investigations Railroad cars Wheels Cracking(Fracturing) Maintenance Inspection Standards Safety Railroad accidents Railroad derailments Lohman(Montana) Amtrak system
Source Agency	National Transportation Safety Board
NTIS Subject Category	85I - Railroad Transportation
Corporate Authors	National Transportation Safety Board, Washington, DC. Bureau of Accident Investigation.
Document Type	Technical Report
NTIS Issue Number	197925

Railroad Accident Report: Derailment of Amtrack Train No. 8, The Empire Builder, on Burlington Northern Track, Lohman, Montana, March 28, 1979.

Railroad Accident Report: Derailment of Amtrack Train No. 8, The Empire Builder, on Burlington Northern Track, Lohman, Montana, March 28, 1979.
PB299067

Publication Date	1979
Page Count	19
Abstract	About 5:50 p.m. on March 28, 1979, Amtrak train No. 8, The Empire Builder, operating on Burlington Northern track, derailed nine cars at Lohman, Montana. Forty-eight persons were injured in the derailment, and the property damage was estimated to be $333,500. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the cracking from overheating of the right rear wheel on the trailing truck of baggage car 1248. The cracked wheel moved inward off the axle seat and decreased the wheel-to-wheel gage. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate maintenance and inspection of the car, which allowed it to continue in service in violation of minimum safety standards. As a result of its investigation of this accident, the Safety Board made two recommendations to the Burlington Northern concerning equipment inspection procedures and one joint recommendation to the Burlington Northern and Amtrak to insure that inspection and maintenance schedules are maintained, and to be certain they are done efficiently.
Keywords	Railroads Accident investigations Railroad cars Wheels Cracking(Fracturing) Maintenance Inspection Standards Safety Railroad accidents Railroad derailments Lohman(Montana) Amtrak system
Source Agency	National Transportation Safety Board
NTIS Subject Category	85I - Railroad Transportation
Corporate Authors	National Transportation Safety Board, Washington, DC. Bureau of Accident Investigation.
Document Type	Technical Report
NTIS Issue Number	197925