RO-1999-101

At approximately 2240 hours on Thursday, 25 February 1999, Train 230, a northbound express freight, was travelling on the up main just south of McKays Crossing when dragging brake gear on a wagon near the centre of the train hit the spreader bar of the safety turnout where the line converged to single track. The impact caused the facing points to open and derail 19 of the following wagons. The derailment brought down part of the 1500V overhead traction line and blocked State Highway 1. Fatigue breaks in a brake beam assembly caused it to fail allowing the brake gear to drop. Safety issues identified included quality control of the brake beams to withstand likely cyclic loading. Three safety recommendations were made to the operator.