Historic Railway Disasters
16 Mar 99
USA: City of New Orleans derailed after collision with truck
(railtec)At least 8 people have died after an Amtrak Chicago - New Orleans express collided with a truck Monday March 15, 1999.
 Photo: WBBM
Overturned locomotive of Amtrak's 'City of New Orleans'
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The accident occurred at about 21.40 near the town of Bourbonnais around 80km (50 miles) to the south of Chicago. The train, the 'City of New Orleans' was carrying 196 passengers and 18 crewmembers when a semi-trailer truck carrying steel rods crossed the track at a grade crossing. The train consisted of 14 cars headed by two locomotives. The locomotives both overturned and two baggage cars coupled behind the locomotives and two carriages were derailed.
Witnesses said that the impact of the crash was heard miles away. Immediately after the impact fire broke out in the first two cars of the train.
The condition of the truck driver is not known, although the train did not hit the tractor unit
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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is to mount an investigation into the accident.
| Current |
CANADA:
VIA Rail passenger train collides with freight cars
30 Jan 2000
USA:
No room for complacency on crossings despite fewer accidents
30 Jan 2000
UK:
Where does corporate responsibility go now?
29 Jan 2000
Belgium:
71 hurt as trains collide
29 Jan 2000
USA:
Metrolink train derailed by oversized load
28 Jan 2000
UK:
Prohibition notice upheld by tribunal after Ladbroke Grove railway accident
27 Jan 2000
RUSSIA:
Passenger and freight trains collide in north west Russia
26 Jan 2000
USA:
Montana Rail Link and I&M Rail Link Launch New Highway-Rail Safety Program
21 Jan 2000
| Links |
At least 8 killed, 120 injured after Amtrak train derails near Chicago
CNN 16/03/99
National Transportation Safety Board
Home page
| Related items |
Images from Boubonnais
Explosives train derails
05/02/99
Copyright © David Fry 1999