NTSB: Rail Crash Caused By Overheated Wheel Bearing

Axios reports:

The crew of the Norfolk Southern train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, attempted to stop it after receiving a “critical” alert about an overheating wheel bearing just before the crash, an investigation found. The preliminary findings from the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation released Thursday came as residents push for answers from officials over the health dangers.

As the crew slowed the train to inspect cars for a hot axle, an automatic emergency brake application initiated, which may indicate the train experienced a separation during deceleration. Before starting to slow down, the crew received a critical audible alarm message indicating the temperature of a railcar wheel bearing was greater than 200°F above the ambient temperature at the time.

Read the full article.

Breaking: The crew of the Norfolk Southern train that derailed in East Palestine tried to stop it after receiving an alert about an overheating wheel bearing, the National Transportation Safety Board says.

More preliminary findings from the investigation: https://t.co/WmcsLqldxY

— Axios (@axios) February 23, 2023