On February 7, 2004, the eastbound Southwest Chief, Train 4 derailed at approx. 730am,
four miles west of Kansas City Union Station. Train was crossing from Track 2 to
Track 1 at the time. Speed limit is 25mph.
Initial inspection found seven cars derailed:
34081 COACH (0412 car)
31514 COACH/SMOKING (deadhead for Brighton Park)
38010 DINER (deadhead for Brighton Park)
71289 EXPRESS BOXCAR
71289 EXPRESS BOXCAR
71185 EXPRESS BOXCAR
71154 EXPRESS BOXCAR
5240 COUPLERMATE
5628 BOGIE
All derailed equipment was upright and in line. Equipment still on the
rails at the scene was:
94
43
86
839
1185 BAGGAGE
39038 DORM
32095 SLEEPER
32090 SLEEPER
38050 DINER
33027 LOUNGE
31590 COACH/SMOKING
The 33027 and 31590, which showed damage related to the derailment, were
left at derailment scene. 2 1/2 hours after the derailment, the consist
forward was cut and moved to Kansas City.
During inspections it was discovered that the four units and all seven
leading cars had in fact derailed and had rerailed themselves. All were
taken out of service.
Estimated damage to cars left at scene:
38050 $3,000
33027 $10,000
31590 $21,000
34081 $21,000
31514 $20,000
38010 $20,000
71289 $1,300
71289 $1,300
71185 $2,000
71154 $2,000
5240 $100
5628 $200
This equipment was all rerailed by 10am, 09FEB, and taken to BNSF
Argentine Yard.
Damage to track, signals: $42,000
--------------------------------------
Train 304(09FEB) was annulled Kansas City-St. Louis and its equipment
was used to operate a stub Train 4, Kansas City-Chicago, departing
approx. 5 hours late:
181
48219 DINETTE
54511 COACH
44553 COACH
Train 304 passengers were bustituted Kansas City-St. Louis. A stub
Train 304 operated St. Louis-Chicago using cars turned short from Train
303. This process delayed Train 303 by 36 minutes at Chicago to add a
second locomotive for St. Louis; after initial delay of 1 hr 20 min for
Train 304 at St. Louis, it was delayed an additional 35 minutes
correcting brake control system problems arose on the AMTK 85. Train
303 passengers transferred to a makeup Train 303, consisting of standby
Superliner equipment at St. Louis, with the locomotive brought from Chicago.
