Report: Train Didn't Heed Stop Signal in Deadly Texas Wreck
A train failed to heed a stop signal before it barreled head-on into another freight train last month in the Texas Panhandle, killing three, according to a preliminary federal report released Thursday.
An eastbound BNSF Railway train failed to slow at a yellow warning signal on June 28 and then continued past a red stop signal before striking an oncoming BNSF train, inspectors for the National Transportation Safety Board said in the report.
The eastbound train, bound for Chicago, was supposed to stop and allow the Los Angeles-bound train to pass. It was traveling just over 60 mph when it passed the yellow signal, though trains are not supposed to travel any faster than 40 mph at a yellow signal so that they can stop in time at a red signal. The train was traveling about 65 mph when it passed the stop signal.
NTSB spokesman Terry Williams said it's not clear how far beyond the stop signal that the point of impact occurred.
[excerpted]http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/report-train-heed-stop-signal-deadly-texas-wreck-40576401