RAILROAD ACCIDENT REPORT: ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY AND INDIANA HARBOR BELT RAILROAD COMPANY COLLISION BETWEEN YARD TRAINS AT RIVERDALE, ILLINOIS ON SEPTEMBER 8, 1970

At 11:08 p.m. September 8, 1970, a collision occurred between Illinois Central (IC) Train 1218 and Indiana Harbor Belt (IHB) Train 8717 at Riverdale, Illinois. The collision of the two yard trains resulted in two fatalities and two serious injuries. Five cars and the caboose of the IC train were derailed and the locomotive cab of the IHB train was demolished. The IHB train was crossing over from an interchange track to an IC main track when the locomotive was struck by the unlighted caboose of the IC train. The IC locomotive was shoving 22 cars, and the caboose had passed a signal indicating "Restricted Proceed" 715 feet prior to impact. The safety Board determined that the accident resulted from the failure of the IC crewmembers to operate IC Train 1218 at a speed so as to be able to avoid the collision. Additional contributing factors included: (a) the failure of IC crewmembers to display a light and occupy a conspicuous position when shoving cars as required by rule; (b) the failure of the IC to provide additional protection when track changes initiated a permanent display of "Restricted Proceed" for the involved signal in 1969; and, (c) inadequacies in operating rules, practices, and personnel training. Contributing to the accident severity was the lack of crash protection provided the occupants of the IHB locomotive.

Media Info

  • Features: Figures; Photos;
  • Pagination: 38 p.

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00071746
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: National Transportation Safety Board
  • Report/Paper Numbers: NTSB-RAR-71-3
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Nov 20 1976 12:00AM