Broken Rail Caused Ohio Train Derailment

A July 2012 Norfolk Southern Railway Co. train derailment in Columbus, Ohio, was due to a broken rail caused by rolling contact fatigue, according to a National Transportation Safety Board report released Sept. 18. One tank car carrying ethanol was punctured and fueled a fire, which caused two other tank cars carrying ethanol to open, the report said. The derailment caused $1.2 million in property damage and injured one person with minor burns, according to the report. The broken rail had “exhibited evidence of rolling contact fatigue” that caused the rail to fracture under the train, the report said. The ...