A Burlington Northern Santa Fe engine operated by remote control
collided with a BNSF engine preparing for a local run in the La Crosse,
Wisc., railroad yard on June 12 at about 10 p.m. No one was injured.
The steps used to climb aboard both engines were damaged in the
collision. An engineer was in the engine, which was stationary before
backing to attach to a train to go to Prairie du Chien, a BNSF spokesman
said. The switch engine, operated by remote control, was pulling 11 cars
south, he said.
Even though railroad companies say remote control improves safety by
eliminating the chance for miscommunication between train crew members,
a railroad spokesman said miscommunication probably caused the accident.
According to the June 13, 2003, issue of the La Crosse Tribune
newspaper, "The cause of the accident was confusion in the communication
between the yardmaster and the crews of the two engines, a BNSF
spokesman (Steve Forsberg ) said. Both crews thought they had the
go-ahead to go on to the same track, he said. "The yardmaster failed to
communicate to the people operating the switch engine that they were
supposed to stop."
A BLE member told the newspaper, "If there had been an engineer, the
accident probably could have been averted."
Remote-controlled switch engine collides with engine in train yard
