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1971 Salem, Illinois derailment

1971 Salem, Illinois, derailment
Aerial view of the wreck
Aerial view of the wreck
Date June 10, 1971
Location Salem, Illinois
Country United States
Rail line Illinois Central Railroad
Operator Amtrak
Type of incident Derailment
Cause Mechanical problem
Statistics
Trains 1
Passengers 211
Deaths 11
Injuries 163

The 1971 Salem, Illinois, derailment occurred on June 10, 1971, when Amtrak's City of New Orleans passenger train derailed near Salem, Illinois. It is sometimes referred to as the Tonti derailment, after the unincorporated community of Tonti, Illinois, which is nearer to the crash site. An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that the derailment was caused by a false flange on a flat wheel caused by a seized axle bearing. The crash killed 11 people and injured 163. It was Amtrak's first fatal accident since assuming control of most intercity passenger trains in the United States on May 1, 1971.

Amtrak #1, the City of New Orleans departed Chicago's Central Station at 8:00 AM CT on June 10, 1971. The City of New Orleans was a daytime train between Chicago and New Orleans, Louisiana. Up until April 30, 1971, it had been operated by the Illinois Central Railroad, but passed to Amtrak when the latter assumed operation of most intercity service in the United States. It was scheduled to arrive in New Orleans at 1:30 AM on June 11. The train was composed of 15 cars: a baggage car, 11 coaches, a diner-counter, a lounge car, and a combination coach/food service car. Amtrak had inherited or leased this equipment from other railroads. A set of four leased Illinois Central diesel locomotives pulled the train: #4031, #4109, #4106, and #2024.


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