1977 BN and Amtrak derailment in LaGrange, IL

[wazzou]

It's not often that you get to see a large variety of photos from a derailment scene.
This happened apparently when the BN train derailed and the Amtrak train hit the derailed train with some speed.
I don't know any other details.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/36106399@N04/albums/72157625772737104

[Spades]

My Google Foo was weak, the only thing I could find is from the NY Times

https://www.nytimes.com/1977/08/28/archives/westbound-amtrak-train-collides-with-derailed-freight-in-illinois.html

No fatalities.  The injured were described as "Walking wounded"

[Mark5]

Wow, what a pileup!

[wazzou]

Thanks for the link @Spades

I got a kick out of this line from the article;
Carlo Findalo, an attendant at a nearby service station, said he had a clear view of the collision. “I called up Amtrak but they wouldn't believe me. I told them one of their trains crashed and they wouldn't believe me,” Mr. Findalo said. “So I called the LaGrange police.”

[davefoxx]

If any of the Amtrak crew from the cab of the Amtrak No. 584 are alive today, I can only imagine the PTSD that they've suffered for the last forty-plus years.  What a horrible accident for that crew.  Not to mention No. 584's heavily damaged cab and the ride off of a destroyed bridge, it looks like boxcar guts remain where the lead truck of No. 584 used to be, and there's a box car door stuck in the side of the locomotive.   

DFF

[wazzou]

Yeah, I'd say the fuel tank likely had a pretty good leak too.