in Springfield, Ohio, in making the case for more scrutiny of the placement of individual rail cars and locomotives. It refers to concerns about safety risks linked to various configurations, particularly in complex, long trains carrying mixed freight and hazardous materials.The proper assembly is critical for a train to safely and effectively navigate the track, according to FRA.
In one of those cases, the 210-car, mixed freight train traveling through Springfield, Ohio, last month derailed while on a slope, with the heavier part of the train on a downhill grade, according to the advisory. The train, with 17,966 trailing tons, had its weight mostly concentrated at the head and rear of the train.
The advisory said that while power locomotives can contribute to improved train control, they should not be considered a replacement for proper train car placement. Most major freight railroads use computer programs that evaluate an individual train’s car makeup and warn of placement errors, according to