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Positive Train Location: Final Report

The overall goal of the Positive Train Location (PTL) project is to develop a system capable of providing the onboard PTC system with timely and accurate position reports of the head-of -train (HOT) and the end-of-train (EOT) for determining track discrimination and train length without the use of...

Ballast Degradation Under Heavy Axle Load Trains at the Western Mega Site

Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), in conjunction with Union Pacific Railroad (UP), investigated ballast performance under 36-ton heavy axle load (HAL) traffic near Ogallala, NE, at the western mega site from 2010–2015. Periodic...

HQ-2017-1237 (Finalized)

On December 8, 2017, at 2:08 p.m., EST, eastbound CSX Transportation (CSX) mixed freight Train Q40407, consisting of 3 locomotives and 141 cars (66 loads/75 empties), derailed 31 cars at Consolidated Rail Corporation (CRSH) C.P. Townley on track No. 2. The derailment occurred on Conrail’s Lehigh...

Positive Train Control Track Data Auditing System

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) contracted with Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI), to develop documentation for a system which automates the auditing of railroad track data for Positive Train Control (PTC). TTCI developed a Concept of Operations (ConOps) document and...

HQ-2017-1201 (Finalized)

At 9:43 a.m., CDT, on April 30, 2017, southbound Canadian National Railway (CN) Train A420 (A 42071 30) collided with the rear-end of CN Train U760 (U 76051 24). The collision and subsequent derailment occurred on CN main track at Milepost (MP) 112.5, near Money, Mississippi. Train U760...

HQ-2017-1232 (Finalized)

On October 13, 2017, at approximately 5:00 p.m. MDT, a single rail car rolling uncontrolled impacted a BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) “road switcher” Freight Train R-MON8151-13I (train 1) as the train was traversing from the Red River Industries' track onto BNSF's Main Track No. 2. he side collision...

HQ-2017-1212 (Finalized)

On July 2, 2017, at 2:29 p.m., PDT, northbound Amtrak passenger Train 506 derailed after running past the red signal protecting BNSF Railway (BNSF) Bridge 14, and hitting the derail on Main Track No. 2, in Steilacoom, Washington. Locomotive No. Amtrak 467 came to rest on its side and three Talgo...