SynopsisAbout 7:54 a.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2004, Union Pacific Railroad (UP) eastboundfreight train AMLKS-18, consisting of 2 locomotives and 78 empty multi-level cars, struck a westbound UP freight train, GLPNEP-16, consisting of 4 locomotives and 93 loaded covered hopper cars. The westbound train was struck about 25 hopper cars behind its locomotives, resulting in 11 derailed cars (the 26th through the 35th). The striking train had two locomotives, and its first 11 cars derailed as a result of the collision. Both crewmembers of the striking train were killed. The crewmembers of the westbound train were unharmed. Diesel fuel released from the ruptured tanks of the striking train’s locomotives caught fire, which was extinguished by the local fire department. There was no evacuation of the area. The estimated damage was $1,964,543.
The Accident
The accident occurred at milepost (MP) 825.8, at the east turnout switch to a siding from the single track mainline at Carrizozo, New Mexico. The westbound train was moving on a diverging approach signal into the siding from the mainline. Before the eastbound train struck the westbound train, it had traveled past a mainline advanced approach signal, an approach signal, and a stop signal. . . . At the time of the collision, the eastbound train was traveling about 36 mph, and the westbound train was traveling about 23 mph.
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