wreck near Wellsville KS

see below site for story, video and photos

http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/news/4161839/detail.html

 

The following description of the train-on-train collision near Wellsville was posted on www.TheRailForum.com in the Yard Office Forum under the discussion "Now I know why I have been in this hotel 24 plus hours!"

"Now for my rant.

Here is the BNSF's spokesman's definition of "minor injuries", - Broken wrist, 2 broken ribs, 2 broken vertebrae, head and arms like hamburger.

When I saw the story, I thought the same as most would from reading the article - little fender bender.

Then I go to work at the away from home terminal for my trip home and found out that the engineer of the train that hit the rear of the other is one of my closest friends - Like a brother.

So I call his cell phone when I get to work to rib him a little bit. To my surprise, his sister answers. She then proceeds to tell me that he is in intensive care with all the injuries I listed above.

BNSF is really trying to play down just how serious this accident was!! The crew from the train going east on the other mainline saw the impact and said the rear of the train they hit just exploded with debris. They had to plug their train. The conductor jumped off and the engineer rode it out and stopped 20 to 30 feet from the accident. The wreck wiped out both lines

Here is what I have heard so far. Train "A" is stopped at the crossovers at Wellsville KS. Train "B" is coming from behind on a "CLEAR" signal. Track speed is 70MPH and train "B" is qualified for track speed. Next signal Train B comes to is red with the rear of Train A just beyond it. My buddy plugs it. Conductor heads out the door to jump and my bro jumps out the engineers window. Train C coming opposite direction on adjacent track see's the impact and plugs it. Conductor jumps and engineer rides it out stopping 20 to 30 feet from wreck and where track used to be.

This signal has been reported before for giving false indications. Last I had heard was the NTSB ran tests on the signal today and the signal DID give a false indication when they tested it. With documented reports of the same signal giving false indications and it doing so again when the NTSB tested it, BNSF has taken responsibility for the accident.

Now you see why BNSF is downplaying the accident in their press release. 4 co-workers are very lucky to be alive.

Now off to bed for a couple hours of sleep. Then up to the hospital to spend the day with my buddy."