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The accident described herein was designated a major accident by the National Transportation Safety Board under the criteria established in the Safety Board's regulations.

This report is based on facts obtained from an investigation conducted by the Safety Board, in cooperation with the Federal Railroad Administration. The investigation included a public hearing held by the Safety Board in Chicago, Illinois, on December 4 through 8, 1972. Representatives of the Illinois Commerce Commission and the Illinois Department of Transportation participated in the hearing. (On January 11, 1973, the two State agencies submitted a joint report to Governor Richard B. Ogilvie concerning their safety activities in relation to this accident.)

Parties to the public hearing were the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, the Chicago South Suburban Mass Transit District, the Congress of Railway Unions, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad Company, The St. Louis Car Division of General Steel Industries, Inc., and the Urban Mass Transportation Administration.

The Conclusions, the determination of probable cause, and the recommendations herein are those of the Safety Board. iii