New Details In East Palestine Train Derailment Revealed In Fresh NTSB Report

The catastrophic Feb. 3 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, was caused by an overheated wheel bearing on the 23rd of 149 rail cars, according to a preliminary Report The National Transportation Safety Board issued this Thursday.

After the train accident at Norfolk Southern Railway, more than 100 thousand gallons of toxic chemicals were set on fire. This led to concerns that the water and air around the 4,700-person town could have been severely contaminated. Although it was believed that the wreck was caused a malfunctioning wheel at the time, the NTSB report provided new details.

“Surveillance video from a local residence showed what appeared to be a wheel bearing in the final stage of overheat failure moments before the derailment,” The report stated.

Video footage Obtained The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the train had covered more than 20 miles due to the rail car axle malfunction. It appeared as though the axle was on fire or sparking sparks.

HBD sensors are installed on tracks to monitor the temperature of wheel bearings and alert crews if they exceed 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The train that derailed passed three sensors before it derailed, with the doomed wheel bearing first registering 38 degrees above ambient temperatures, then 103 degrees, and finally 253 degrees above ambient temperatures, the report stated.

The HBD system sent a critical audio alarm message to the crew directing them to slow down and stop the train. The engineer did so, but ​once the train stopped the crew saw fire and smoke and notified the Cleveland East dispatcher of a possible derailment.

According to the report on Feb. 5, the fire that was sparked by the heat of the wheels bearing was under control. But with five cars carrying 115,580 gallons of highly volatile vinyl chloride on the derailed train, and the temperature rising in at least one of them, the decision was made to execute a “controlled burn” The chemicals sent a black, toxic plume in the skies above East Palestine.

“This increase in temperature suggested that the vinyl chloride was undergoing a polymerization reaction, which could pose an explosion hazard,” The report stated. “Responders scheduled a controlled venting of the five vinyl chloride tank cars to release and burn the vinyl chloride.”