Page:NTSB RAR-77-10.pdf/2

 TECHNICAL REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE

1 Report No. NTSB-RAR-77-10

2 Government Accession No.

3 Recipient's Catalog No.

4 Title and Subtitle  Railroad Accident Report - Rear End Collision of Two Chicago Transit Authority Trains, Chicago, Illinois, February 4, 1977

5 Report Date November 29, 1977

6 Performing Organization Code

7 Author(s)

8 Performing Organization Report No

9 Performing Organization Name and Address

1O. Work Unit No.  2111A

National Transportation Safety Board.

Bureau of Accident Investigation

Washington, D. C. 20594

11 Contract or Grant No

12 Sponsoring Agency Name and Address

NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD

Washington, D. C. 20594

13 Type of Report and Period Covered

Railroad Accident Report February 4, 1977

14 Sponsoring Agency Code

15 Supplementary Notes

16 Abstract

About 5:27 p.m., c.s.t., on February 4, 1977, Chicago Transit Authority Lake-Dan Ryan train No. 930 struck the rear of Ravenswood train No. 415, which was standing on the elevated rail structure at the intersection of Wabash Avenue and Lake Street. The four lead cars of the eight—car Lake—Dan Ryan train overturned and fell from the elevated structure to the street. One end of each of the two rear cars of the Ravenswood train derailed. Eleven persons were killed and 266 persons were injured. Property damage was estimated to be $1.2 million.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of the motorman to exercise due care in meeting his responsibilities and the unauthorized operation of the Lake—Dan Ryan train into a signal block Occupied by the standing Ravenswood train, at a speed that was too fast to st0p after the operator sighted the standing train.

As a result of its investigation of this accident, the National Transportation Safety Board made four recommendations to the Chicago Transit Authority.

17 Key Words

Rapid transit; elevated; automatic train control; overspeed control; cab signals; AF track circuits; magnetic track brakes; restricted speed; third rail power; emergency lights; ejection through windows.

18 Distribution Statement

This document is available to the public through the National Technical Informa tion Service, Springfield, Virginia 22152

19 Security Classification (of this report)

UNCLASSIFIED

20 Security Classification (of this page)

UNCLASSIFIED

21 No. of Pages

36

22 Price

NTSB Form 1765.2 (Rev. 9/74}

Dept. of Transportation Library

MAY 16 1978