r/TrainCrashes

place to break down

On June 28th, 2016, Two BNSF Intermodal Trains going opposite directions were passing through Texas.

The Westbound Train had BNSF 5416, BNSF 7553, BNSF 7907, BNSF 8191, BNSF 5212 and around 54 Intermodal Cars. The Train left Wellington, KS at 2 AM.

The Eastbound Train had BNSF 5162, BNSF 7838, BNSF 3967, another 54 Intermodal Cars, DPUs BNSF 8234 and BNSF 3970. The Train left Amarillo, TX at 7:25 AM.

At 8:21 AM The Trains were passing through Panhandle, TX next to a siding where two uncoupled Eastbound BNSF engines, 7911 and 5451 where seating when BNSF 5416 West and BNSF 5162 East collided head-on with BNSF 5162 going 47 MPH and BNSF 5416 going 37 MPH causing a big fire.

The two crew members on BNSF 5162 and The Conductor of BNSF 5416 died in the crash.

The Engineer of BNSF 5416 jumped off the engine before the collision and only had minor injuries.

The lead Locomotives BNSF 5416 and BNSF 5162 were completely destroyed, BNSF 7838 and BNSF 3967 were buried when 21 Intermodal Cars piled on top of them, BNSF 7553s cab was completely destroyed, BNSF 7907 and BNSF 8191 only had little damage with BNSF 7907s noise right in front of BNSF 3967, BNSF 5212 was ripped apart when 5 Intermodal crashed into it from the stop, BNSF 7911 and BNSF 5451 were undamaged.

This crash was The Worst Train Wreck in BNSF's History and The Worst in Texas Since The 2002 Clarendon Train Collision.

The pictures are from The Forward Facing Video Cameras on BNSF 7907, first picture, BNSF 8191, second picture and BNSF 7911, third picture.

The reason why the Trains collided was because BNSF 5162 passed a red stop signal where they were supposed to wait for BNSF 5416 to pass because The Engineer had Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Poor Sleep Quality and The Conductor had Sedating Medication taken before his shift.

As for what happened to the Locomotives, BNSF 5162, BNSF 7838, BNSF 3967, BNSF 5416, BNSF 7553 and BNSF 5212 were deemed a total loss and were scrapped, along with the derailed Intermodal Cars.

BNSF 7907 and BNSF 8191 were used as spare parts until 2020 when they were repaired and returned to service and are still around today, along with BNSF 8234, BNSF 3970, BNSF 7911 and BNSF 5451 which were undamaged.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the 3 crew members who died, the engineer who survived and their families.

The Train had two CN Locomotives pulling Empty Lumber Cars going North.

The Balloon was coming from the East going West.

3 People inside the basket of the Balloon, the pilot and 2 passengers had minor injuries when the deflating Balloon got caught between the 20th and 24th Cars of the train and dragged the Balloon and basket a few hundred feet down the tracks.

The Engineer saw the Balloon coming down and slowed down, only to go into emergency braking when he saw the Balloon hit the train behind the engines. Thr train crew was uninjured.

The pilot of the Balloon was trying to make an emergency landing and land on grass in a park right next to the train tracks, due to the strong winds on that day.

The Engines and Lumber Cars were undamaged and the Balloon was probably repaired.

The picture is representing the view from The Forward Facing Video Camera on the second locomotive. The numbers of both locomotives are unknown. You can see the Balloon on the top left of the train. Also, on the right of the picture behind the buildings, someone in a car going the same way as the train, took video of the Balloon and the Train.

If there's anything I forgot about this incident or know the numbers of the CN Locomotives, please let me know.

The man was presumed dead I believe.