The National Transportation Safety Board issued a preliminary report of its investigation into the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern freight train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
PHOTOS: Massive explosion at start of controlled release of chemicals at train derailment
Click here to read the full report.
According to the report, before the derailment, an alarm instructed the crew to stop the train to inspect a hot axle, and an automatic emergency brake initiated.
The report indicates that after the train stopped, the crew observed smoke and fire and notified dispatch of a possible derailment. With dispatcher authorization, “the crew applied handbrakes to the two railcars at the head of the train, uncoupled the head-end locomotives, and moved the locomotives about 1 mile from the uncoupled railcars. Responders arrived at the derailment site and began response efforts,” the report states.
NTSB investigators identified and examined the first railcar to derail, which was the 23rd railcar. Surveillance video from a residence showed what appeared to be a wheel bearing in the “final stage of overheat failure” moments before the derailment.
The wheel bearing and affected wheelset were collected as evidence and will be examined, the report states.
The vinyl chloride tank car top fittings, including the relief valves, were also removed and examined by the NTSB and will be tested, according to the report.
The Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday that they’ve ordered Norfolk Southern to conduct all necessary actions toward cleaning up the site.
The NTSB’s investigation is ongoing and officials held a news conference Thursday to discuss rail safety and details from the investigation.
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