HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Crews encountered air brake problems before a 178-car freight train derailed in Pennsylvania earlier this month, causing hazardous material to ignite and forcing nearby residents to evacuate, federal investigators said.
The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report issued Monday said a crew stopped the CSX Transportation train before the Aug. 2 wreck, applied 58 hand brakes and recharged the air brakes.
After that crew’s shift ended, a second crew thought the train might still have air brake problems and kept the hand brakes on but wasn’t able to move the train down a hill near the borough of Hyndman, the report said.
The engineer switched from locomotive power to dynamic braking three times before one car derailed nearly 2 miles (3 kilometers) before the larger derailment and fire, the agency said.
“NTSB is investigating many factors into the cause of the derailment, including the length, makeup, and operation of the train, as well as the condition of the rail cars and track,” the report said.