Chicago Transit Authority Train Collides with Bumping Post and Escalator At O’Hare Station

This animated reconstruction shows the sequence of events during the accident, in which train 141 collided with a bumping post and escalator at O’Hare Station at O’Hare International Airport. The accident occurred on March 24, 2014 at 2:49 a.m. local time, when train 141 entered the center pocket track through the crossover switches at a steady speed at 23 mph, going past a red signal and a mechanical track trip, then colliding with the bumping post and escalator. First, a two-dimensional animation is used to provide an overview of the circumstances of the accident. The animation is followed by a surveillance video showing the collision from the top of the escalator, which is followed by a post-accident photograph. The animation includes audio with a voice over narration.
The animation begins with an overall map of the Chicago Transit Authority’s blue line with stations indicated. The route of train 141 from Logan Square Station to O’Hare Station is illustrated. The next image is a diagram (not to scale) of O’Hare Station, depicting an overall view of the station Track 1 is shown at the top of the diagram, the center pocket track is in the middle and track 2 is at the bottom of the diagram. Bumping posts are shown located before the end of each track. A solid red signal and a mechanical track trip are indicated adjacent to the center pocket track; a train would encounter the signal and track trip before reaching the bumping post near the end of the track. Escalators and stairs to the airport terminal are depicted beyond the end of center track. Trains were parked at the platform on tracks 1 and 2 when train 141 entered the station, so it passed through crossover switches onto the center pocket track to service the station. A red signal on the center pocket track activated the train’s brakes electronically, and a track trip on the center pocket track activated the train’s brakes mechanically, but there was insufficient distance to stop the train before it collided with the bumping post and then continued onto the station platform and up the escalator towards the O’Hare airport terminal. Surveillance video from the airport looking directly at the train is shown, followed by a photograph of train 141 at rest on the escalators up to the airport terminal.

[@yourlocalnoob6902]

those two guys were in the exact place to bring some memories

[@Brimstone-Gaming]

they filled their depends that morning lol

[@delanorrosey4730]

Dude didn't forget his luggage. :)

[@348frank348]

gotta admire the resilience of that escalator though, didn't completely collapse

[@shaunbrown85]

This is crazy. Gotta love these NTSB videos.

[@danhood1641]

As if being in O'Hare wasn't enough to ruin their day

[@Organgrinder1010]

In the 1960s when I lived in Chicago every portal descending into the subway had a series of signals that prevented over-speeding even if the operator ignored them. A number of other locations had similar speed-control signals. New York has such speed controlling signals, many in place for close to a century. I don't see why such a chain of signals was not in place in this location. This accident should not have been possible.

[@lividsnacks]

1:25 Gentlemen always handshake before they part ways.

[@AlienatedArtist]

Lol

[@lewisdoherty7621]

How difficult is it to calculate proper Moorgate Protection speeds entering a station? I'm pretty sure passenger equipment is tested by overloading the cars past accepted mass capacity with sandbags representing super-packed conditions and the brakes are tested to confirm distances. The fact that the train was able to go through the bumping post and head up an escalator meant that the calculations were way off. Some systems have three speed reduction checkpoints approaching terminal stations since having a train with a sleeping operator approaching the only speed reduction point at 70 MPH won't stop in time. A train when it passes a location activates a train braking device further down the line. The trip device deactivates because of the timer at the point before a train traveling at or below the authorized speed should pass. If a train passes before that time, the brakes are applied.

[@fetchstixRHD]

From the diagrams if I'm understanding them, there was no Moorgate Control (assuming the "Moorgate" is in reference to central London, where the 1975 accident happened), and there's only the (fixed?) train stop at the end of the track? I was about to comment asking how come there wasn't any Moorgate Control, it seems like many places outside of the UK that use tripcocks don't have it?

[@ZorbaTheDutch]

I guess somebody had a plane to catch.

[@michaelbowman7558]

That could really ruin a person's entire day!

[@neumannhaus]

Anywhere else: Welp, that's one train driver who just got fired. Chicago: Promoted to supervisor.

[@1FatHappyBirthday]

Video does not explain who or what was at fault. Why was the train directed into the center pocket track if the automatic brake mechanisms (electronic and mechanical) were not sufficient enough to stop the train before it slammed into the bumping post? Was the train going to fast at the switch over? Do they usually use the center point track to receive a train with passengers or only if the other two are full?

[@JLJ061]

The train's operator was expected to be alert to stop the train before reaching the end of the track but the operator had fallen asleep, thus causing the accident.

[@shopdog831]

but it was an automated breaking system the train should have stopped regardless

[@delanorrosey4730]

@@JLJ061 Well, he awake now!

[@delanorrosey4730]

@@shopdog831 I think it was preset for a slower speed in anticipation of stopping. I.E. 5mph -10mph.
23mph on a cross track seems rather rough on the train and tracks. You'd think it would wake him up.

[@Newlinegaming205]

When there was a train parked on track 1 the train entered the central pock.aa soon as the train entered that track the driver fell asleep

[@am74343]

That's really stupid that the track trip sensor wasn't far enough away from the platform so that the train could brake in time!

[@EoRdE6]

The operator was asleep that's the real fault here.

[@arlobennett8504]

@@EoRdE6 white people, am I rite?

[@TBF_1J]

@@arlobennett8504 bro 💀

[@mmhmmh23]

wow i was there seeing the whole incident

[@alyssasmith885]

"no more air 4 u"
-O'Hare

[@RailfannerMetra614]

WOW THAT HAPPENED sorry for the caps

[@WarblesOnALot]

G'day,
Yay Team..!
As soon as the Animation gave the Speed as 23 & a half MPH and Steady as it entered the Points, it sounded like it was going too fast.., like, a bit over twice as speedy as the Track-Tripped Brake-System could deal with...
So, um, what was the Driver's story...?
;-p
Ciao !

[@Fallingbread_playz]

I remember seeing this 2014 blue line crash somewhere

[@cyberjoel]

Peter Griffin and the chicken were on that train.

[@shelliehuff7865]

Wow that's great

[@kylefournier537]

the motor operators of CTA are confined to a little dark corner of the car looking out a window, they sit there and take stations and going up and down those tracks at new night can put enyone to sleep and not even know it especially when your alone. spend a day listing to ac ducts and fans and rails rummble.and soft chatter of people in the back ground.

[@micmac99]

Hey Carbonsnail: Remind me never to send you a resume, or to ever do business with you. One reason I choose not to do business with racists and bigots is they always have an excuse.

[@utubewatcher806]

life imitating art from the 1970's?

[@pancudowny]

You mean "Silver Streak"? Yeah... Life & Art just can't stop mocking each-other.

[@billdougan4022]

Yes,. all it needed was a Fiat X19.

[@chriswatson2407]

A very O'hairy incident

[@jimmyblanc7545]

So the blue line in the center pocket track then the driver slept

[@rossbryan6102]

I IMAGINE THIS EQUIPMENT WAS
PARTIALLY AUTOMATED FOR TRACK SPEEDS AND STOP LOCATIONS!
I BELEIVE THAT TRACK SPEED
WOULD BE 10 MPH APPROACHING THE CROSSOVER!
UNFORTUNATELY WHEN THE AUTOMATED MODES OR THE SEMI AUTOMATED MODES ARE USED THE OPERATING PERSONNEL ARE
LESS INCLINED TO TAKE OVER IN THE EVENT OF A MALFUNCTION!!
MORE SIMULATOR SESSIONS ARE NEEDED TO KEEP THE OPERATING CREW "SHARP"!!

[@geoffreylee5199]

Was the operator paying attention? Looks like minimally so.

[@RLTtizME]

How so?

[@jv-ep2tc]

the guy with the gray hair stayed in the path of the train....?

[@Brain_quench]

The train was trying to leave illinois, it knew its state sucked!

[@czperiod2576]

FREEDOM!!!!!

[@hexane360]

Not sure what to say about this one. . .

[@EoRdE6]

Sleeping operator.

[@makutamiserix5612]

LET IT DIE, LET IT DIE, LET IT SHRIVEL UP AND-

[@aperfectspongebobpopsicle2221]

Come on who's with me guys huh?

[@aperfectspongebobpopsicle2221]

Nobody!

[@aperfectspongebobpopsicle2221]

YOU DIRTY DIRTBAG

[@MrKane1983]

Many trains derailed and crashes

[@saleendriver]

Wonder if that train operator was charged or even lost his job. I bet not. Union rules don't you know.........

[@lorenz681]

"She" was only sixty days on the job and had already fallen asleep while operating a train at least one other time, careening through a station where she was supposed to have stopped. Her last nap as a train operator cost the taxpayers of Chicago well over six million dollars

[@segundooron]

DAMN

[@MeaHeaR]

Thats another finé mess you gott mé into

[@darrylpayne8713]

Yikes!

[@TEMPLE7D]

Train operator was tired and pregnant i think.

[@Michael_Livingstone]

Oopsie doodles….

[@Unsound_advice]

Hilarious, every time.

[@nuclearthreat545]

lmao

[@stevesolas3536]

☆☆

[@Detroit_Dawg]

Cop pushes old man to escape lmao

[@JERRYinCHS]

It looked like the cop was trying to pull the guy away.