Lincoln, Neb. (BNSF)

May 30, 2004

On May 30, 2004, an unmanned remote control locomotive on the BNSF at Lincoln, Neb., -- attached to over 60 cars -- sideswiped a freight train, derailing tanks cars loaded with liquid fertilizer. The operator was attempting to shove the cars over the hump from over a mile away. The operator apparently misjudged the direction of movement and moved into the freight train. The subsequent spill of diesel fuel and fertilizer required cleanup of a nearby pond. This accident is very similar to another that occurred on the Union Pacific in Blair, NE in December 19, 2000. In that accident a CANAC employee became disoriented and ran his train on to the mainline causing a derailment and over $400,000 in damage. That accident was within a quarter mile of the Missouri River.