{"id":42906,"date":"2018-01-10T10:34:15","date_gmt":"2018-01-10T15:34:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smart-union.org\/?p=42906"},"modified":"2018-01-10T10:34:15","modified_gmt":"2018-01-10T15:34:15","slug":"ntsb-publishes-preliminary-findings-on-amtrak-501-washington-derailment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smart-union.org\/ntsb-publishes-preliminary-findings-on-amtrak-501-washington-derailment\/","title":{"rendered":"NTSB publishes preliminary findings on Amtrak 501 Washington derailment","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

Below are the preliminary findings of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)<\/a> as published on their website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"On December 18, 2017, at 7:33 a.m., Pacific standard time, southbound Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corporation) passenger train 501, consisting of a leading and trailing locomotive, a power car, 10 passenger railcars and a luggage car, traveling at 78 mph derailed from a highway overpass near DuPont, Washington.
\nWhen the train derailed, it was on its first regular passenger service trip on a single main track (Lakewood subdivision) at milepost (MP) 19.86. The lead locomotive, the power car, and two passenger railcars derailed onto Interstate 5. Fourteen highway vehicles came into contact with the derailed equipment.
\nAt the time of the accident, 77 passengers, 5 Amtrak employees, and a Talgo Incorporated technician were on the train. Of these individuals, 3 passengers were killed, and 62 passengers and crewmembers were injured. Eight individuals in highway vehicles were also injured. The damage is estimated to be more than $40.4 million.
\nAt the time of the accident, the temperature was 48\u02daF, the wind was from the south at 9 mph, and the visibility was 10 miles in light rain.
\nThe authorized track speed north of the accident site is 79 mph and decreases to 30 mph at MP 19.8, prior to a curve. A 30-mph speed sign, was posted 2 miles before the curve on the engineer\u2019s side of the track, to remind the operating crews of the upcoming speed restriction. Furthermore, another 30-mph speed sign was on the wayside at the beginning of the curve on the engineer\u2019s side of the locomotive.
\nThe lead locomotive\u2019s event data and video recorders were successfully downloaded and processed in the NTSB\u2019s Video Recorder laboratory in Washington, D.C. An initial review of the final portion of the accident sequence revealed the following information:<\/p>\n