The shift of a small piece of metal caused a June train derailment in downtown Johnstown, railroad administrators say.
A CSX Corp. investigation found that the problem with a “tie plate” led to four freight cars leaving the track at a busy Bedford Street crossing.
The company will continue to look closely at that section of track to ensure that the issue does not arise again, CSX spokesman Gary Sease said.
“Since the derailment on June 19, we have not seen any evidence of that happening,” Sease said.
No one was hurt in the incident. But one railcar struck Budget Transmission at 340 Bedford St., and another stopped just short of the business.
An employee’s truck parked near the tracks was destroyed.
At the time, a witness said he saw the front wheels of one railcar “hopping, and they popped off the track.”
Sease said train rails must be 4 feet, 8 1/2 inches apart. Tie plates connect wooden cross ties to the rails.
In the June incident, the shifting tie plate “allowed the track to move out of alignment, and that resulted in the derailment,” Sease said.
The faulty tie plate has been replaced. Sease added that the track in question is inspected three times each week, as it was prior to the incident.
“We do maintain that track very well, and we’ve actually done some extensive maintenance and replacement work on that track,” he said.
While those preventative measures will continue, CSX apparently will not have to submit a report on the accident to government regulators.
The National Transportation Safety Board gets involved only in catastrophic rail accidents.
And the Johnstown derailment did not meet the criteria necessary to trigger a Federal Railroad Administration investigation, a spokesman said.
Those criteria include accidents leading to fatalities, track or equipment damage exceeding $1 million, extensive property damage or the release of hazardous materials.
When it comes to relatively minor accidents, rail companies often must submit a one-page report to the railroad administration. But CSX determined that the Johnstown derailment did not warrant such a report.
That’s not a big concern for Ed Fabo, who owns Budget Transmission. As a contractor fixed the corner of his building last week, Fabo said CSX has been cooperative.
CSX administrators have pledged to reimburse him for structural repairs and for any lost business after the wreck, since one garage bay has been unusable since then, Fabo said.
Damage to the building has been estimated at $15,000 to $20,000, he said.
And the railroad already has compensated the Budget Transmission employee whose Ford Ranger was crushed.
“They paid for that almost immediately,” Fabo said.
“They were really good about that.”
Local News
Related Photos
-
Vehicles travel through a railroad crossing on Bedford Street in downtown Johnstown. John Tanish
-
An investigation found that a tie plate, similar to the one pictured, led to a derailment at the busy crossing in June. John Rucosky
-
During the incident a railcar struck Budget Transmission and another stopped just short of the business. An employee’s truck parked near the tracks was destroyed. Todd Berkey
Discussion
Faulty tie plate blamed for downtown Johnstown train derailment
- Local News
-
-
Mild winter speeds work: Entertainment venue may be complete by end of May
An unusually mild winter has accelerated construction of a new outdoor entertainment venue in Johnstown.
-
Man jailed on rash of charges
A Patton man is being held on $100,000 bond after police said he threatened to kill a woman, her family and himself unless she talked to him about a protection-from-abuse order.
-
Cambria abolishes 16 jobs
Following through on promises to cut budget costs, the Cambria County commissioners voted Thursday to abolish 16 positions, including nine full-time jobs.
-
Blogging with heart
Anyone else have this issue: The more I know, the more I want to learn.
As I am writing my heart month stories for this week’s packages, I occasionally come across a term or description unfamiliar to me. So I look it up. And then the definition or article has something else that sounds important, so I look that up. -
Wozniak defends his support of drilling bill
State Sen. John Wozniak, D-Westmont, one of only seven Democrats to support the Marcellus Shale legislation adopted this week, said the bill protects the environment and provides help to local communities impacted by the natural gas drilling.
-
Businessman hoping to unseat Wozniak
Tim Houser uses two words – “challenging opportunity” – to describe his goal in this year’s elections.
-
Judge tosses evidence in robbery
A Cambria County prosecutor said he’ll have to drop robbery charges against a Twin Rocks woman after much of his evidence was suppressed by a judge.
-
Shooting defendant pleads to attempted murder
A Philadelphia man pleaded guilty Thursday in county court to attempted murder and theft in a Nov. 18 home invasion in which the homeowner was shot.
-
Garrett man sought in Somerset crime
An arrest warrant has been issued for Samuel McFarland Jr., 33, of Berlin Street in Garrett in connection with Saturday’s robbery of two boys outside Dollar General on East Main Street in Somerset.
-
City man shot during alleged burglary
A Johnstown man was shot during a burglary attempt in Indiana County and then burglarized a home in Armstrong County before he was arrested, authorities said Thursday.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
