Page:NTSB RAR-81-4.pdf/2

 TECHNICAL REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE

1. Report No. NTSB-RAR-81-4

2. Government Accession No. PB81-204869

3.Recipient's Catalog No.

4. Title and Subtitle Railroad Accident Report—Head-end Collision of Amtrak Passenger Train No. 74 Conrail Train OPSE—7, Dobbs Ferry, New York, November 7. 1980

5. Report Date April 28. 1981

6. Performing Organization Code

7. Author(s)

8.Performing Organization Report No.

9. Performing Organization Name and Address

National Transportation Safety Board

Bureau of Accident Investigation

Washington, D.C. 20594

1O. Work Unit No.

3245

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 November 7, 1980

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

15.Supplementary Notes

The subject report was distributed to NTSB mailing lists: 8A, 8D, 14A and 14B.

16. Abstract

About 4:12 p.m., on November 7, 1980, Conrail freight train OPSE-7 struck the head-end of Amtrak train No. 74 while it was standing on track No. 2 at Dobbs Ferry, New York. The lead locomotive unit of train OPSE-7 overrode and destroyed the operating cab of the power car of train No. 74. Of the estimated 234 persons aboard the trains, 75 passengers and 9 crewmembers were injured. Damage to the equipment was estimated at $915,000.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of the OW operator to apply a blocking device to the signal lever which permitted him to clear the signal and allowed train No. 74 to proceed on an occupied track, and Conrail's condoning the transmission of train orders without requiring the operator to display the train order signal. Contributing to the accident were the improper training and inadequate supervision of the operator and the failure of Conrail to provide a reasonable means of displaying train order signals at OW. Contributing to the injuries were the design of the seats and lack of emergency evacuation instructions.

17 Key Words Head—end collision, freight train, passenger train, turbotrain, automatic block signal system, interlocking, operator, dispatcher, train order signal, signal lever blocking device.

18 Distribution Statement

This document is available to the Public through the National Technical Information Service Springfield, Virgina 22161 (Always refer to number listed in item 2)

19.Security Classification (of this report)

UNCLASSIFIED

20 Security Classification (of this page)

UNCLASSIFIED

21.No. of Pages

47

22.Price

NTSB Form 1765.2 (Rev. 9/74)