Train 5(17) Derailed West of Creston, IA 
Train 5(17) derailed at approximately 11:40 pm CT, at MP 419.8 on the BNSF 
Creston Subdivision of the Nebraska Division, three miles east of Nodaway, 
IA, and 20 miles west of Creston, IA. Both engines and 11 cars derailed; the 
rear three Express cars, one mail car and 1 RoadRailer remained on the rails. 

Engineer (deleted name) reported that he had experienced whistle failure on 
lead engine 140, and was operating to protect crossings. Train 5(17) had 
slowed to protect a farm crossing approximately 1-1½ miles east of the 
derailment point, and accelerated to an estimated 50 to 55 MPH when the 
engineer notched back to throttle position number 3 in preparation for a 50 
MPH equilateral turnout at MP 422.2 when he felt his train retard and heard 
"screeching" behind him, and placed his train in emergency. 

Train 5(17) derailed as follows: 

140 - Derailed upright, rerailed 305p, moved to Nodaway siding 
141 - Derailed upright, rerailed 325p, moved to Nodaway siding 
PC4008 - Derailed upright, rerailed 345p, moved to Nodaway siding 
1517 - Derailed on side in ditch 
1195 - Derailed on side 
39040 - Derailed on side in ditch 
34071 - Derailed, jack-knifed, upright 
34070 - Derailed leaning at 45 deg. angle 
31522 - Derailed in ditch, at 45 deg angle 
33034 - Derailed leaning 
38033 - Derailed upright 
32096 - Derailed upright 
32049 - Derailed upright 
70041 - Not Derailed, moved to Corning siding, add to 5(19) to Emeryville 
71149 - Not Derailed, moved to Corning siding, add to 5(19) to Emeryville 
70005 - Not Derailed, moved to Corning siding, add to 5(19) to Emeryville 
71198 - Not Derailed, moved to Corning siding, add to 5(19) to Denver 
5223 - Not Derailed, moved to Corning siding, add to 5(19) to Denver 
466855 - Not Derailed, moved to Corning siding, add to 5(19) to Denver 
5205 - Not Derailed, moved to Corning siding, add to 5(19) to Denver. 

At the time of the derailment, there were 147 Coach guests, 48 Sleeper 
guests, and 16 crew members, for a total of 211 guests and crew members on 
board at the time of the derailment. 

Of the 211 guests and crew on board, Adams County Sheriffs Department and the 
Corning Chief of Police report one confirmed fatality. In addition, the 
following numbers of passengers were transported to hospitals for treatment: 

Aligent in Corning: 48, 2 of whom were flown to Methodist Hospital in Des 
Moines 

Montgomery County Hospital in Red Oak: 9 

Clarinda: 24 

Creston: 8 

St. Josephs in Omaha: 2 

Of the 211 people on board, a total of 96 were taken to hospitals for 
treatment. 

As of 3 am, March 19, there are eight guests and one employee hospitalized: 

(names of injured guests and employees deleted) 

The remaining 115 guests and employees were transported by local school bus 
to the Nodaway Community Center in Nodaway, where they were met by volunteers 
in the community, as well as the Red Cross. Coffee, food, fruit juice and 
other drinks were made available for our guests. Most of the carry-on baggage 
was removed and transported to the Clarion Hotel for distribution to the 
guests, although some baggage remains in Coach 34071; checked baggage will be 
off-loaded on Sunday evening and Monday. After staging at the Nodaway 
Community Center, guests were transported to three hotels in Omaha, Ramada, 
Clarion and Holiday Inn, for housing, processing and preparations for further 
movement. Most guests are requesting to travel on the next available Train 5 
or to be flown to their destinations; a group of 26 guests has elected to 
travel by bus back to Chicago. 

Trains 6(16) and 5(18) detoured over the Union Pacific between Omaha and 
Chicago, missing all intermediate stops, with alternate transportation 
provided for the missed stops. There was no alternate transportation provided 
from downline stations to represent Train 5(17); the RSCCs initiated 
call-backs to guests boarding downline. 

National Transportation Safety Board Team Responding 

(Deleted: approximately 45 names of Amtrak personnel involved with this 
incident and its investigation) 

The Train & Engine service employees were tested in accordance with FRA 
regulations pending investigation into the cause of the derailment. After the 
tests, the crew was released to their homes and will be interviewed again on 
Monday, March 19. EAP is monitoring the crew as part of the Project CARE 
program. 

Cause: Under Investigation 

Damage costs to be determined 

Delays: 05(17) Terminated Nodaway 
06(16) 6'07" Operating over the detour 
3'55" Delay to guests dp OMA 
05(18) 3'29" Operating over the detour 

Following is a current update of damage/disposition of the equipment in
the Amtrak Zephyr wreck in Iowa:


140 - Derailed upright, rerailed 305p, moved to LKN,  $35,000
141 - Derailed upright, rerailed 325p, moved to LKN   $75,000
PC4008 - Derailed upright, rerailed 345p, moved LKN   $50,000
1517 - Derailed on side in ditch.  SCRAP             $200,000 
1195 - Derailed on side                              $125,000
39040 - Derailed on side in ditch                    $500,000
34071 - Derailed, jack-knifed, upright  SCRAP        $450,000   
34070 - Derailed leaning at 45 deg. Angle SCRAP      $450,000
31522 - Derailed in ditch, at 45 deg angle SCRAP     $450,000   
33034 - Derailed leaning, rerailed 2:30p 3/20/01     $300,000
38033 - Derailed upright, rerailed 1:36p 3/20/01     $200,000   
32096 - Derailed upright, rerailed 12:30p 3/20/01    $150,000
32049 - Derailed upright, rerailed 11:45a 3/20/01    $150,000
70041 - Not Derailed, moved to OMA, add to 5(19) to Emeryville
71149 - Not Derailed, moved to OMA, add to 5(19) to Emeryville   
70005 - Not Derailed, moved to OMA, add to 5(19) to Emeryville
71198 - Not Derailed, moved to OMA, add to 5(19) to Denver
5223 - Not Derailed, moved to OMA, add to 5(19) to Denver
466855 - Not Derailed, moved to OMA, add to 5(19) to Denver
5205 - Not Derailed, moved to OMA, add to 5(19) to Denver.

-Gene Poon