AMTRAK and MARC Train
Collision & Derailment

By Ken Knopp -Team President
Montgomery County REACT Team #2388
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While eating dinner Friday night February 16th 1996 around 1730Hrs in the midst of an area wide snow storm, our Fire Department pager had just gone off for a house fire in our area. As my wife and I and the friend visiting during dinner were all Volunteer Firefighter/EMTs we were listening for the first units to arrive and give a radio report. While listening the BOX ALARM pre-alert was sounded (3 long beeps) "beeeep beeeep beeeep BOX 19 being sounded for a report of a train derailment with fire behind the 1900 block of Littonsville Road" this was followed by 45 seconds of data bursts and quick call pager tones to alert individual units. The initial dispatch sent several Fire Engines, Truck Companies, Rescue Squads, Basic Life Support Ambulances and Advanced Life Support Ambulances (Paramedics) toward the scene. The first arriving engine company reported a confirmed train derailment, many injured and two fires at opposite ends of the train.

On-Scene command was established and an immediate second alarm assignment was requested. The MASS casualty and HAZMAT equipment was also dispatched as part of the second alarm. Several minutes later a third alarm was requested. The incident command structure was established and alternate channels put into service. Fire ground operations was moved to its own channel. EMS operations was moved to their own channel. Logistics and Staging was moved to yet another channel. The second and third alarm utilized heavy mutual aid units from neighboring counties.

The Montgomery County Department of Fire and Rescue Services, Division of Emergency Management activated Montgomery County REACT to assist the American Red Cross in establishing shelter operations and communications at a pre-designated public high school. Montgomery County REACT Communications Officer (Unit #273) Mike Harvey and (Unit #266) Karl Kaufmann headed to the local Red Cross chapter house while (Unit #205) Sue Harvey stood by the home base station and telephone. Montgomery County REACT Vice President (Unit #240) Jim Gerondakis and (Unit #239) Debbie Gerondakis came up on the NCRI UHF Repeater System (.675) form their home base and began operation as a dedicated emergency dispatch station. (Unit #285) Estelle Riemer remained on the air to provide an additional UHF/Citizens Band base information distribution station.

Montgomery County REACT Secretary (Unit #228) Allan Moonbloode, a member of the Red Cross disaster team, headed to the designated shelter site. Junior member (Unit #295) Steven Hagberg and (Unit #290) Kevin Hagberg were asked to head to the Montgomery County Emergency Operations Center to activate the Montgomery County REACT position (Radio Designation Unit #201) in the Emergency Management Groups Radio Room. While en route to this assignment they experienced mechanical trouble and were out of service for the duration of the evening. (Unit #275) Patrick Brown and (Unit #264) Bob Goley were quickly identified as an alternate solution and completed this assignment. Unit 201 operated on several UHF channels with field units to provide a coordination point with the Montgomery County Emergency Operations Center.

Junior Member (Unit #237) Jim Peterson and his father an Associated Press News Photographer provided on scene situation reports and train passenger logistics information to other units as the shelter was being established. Additional Montgomery County REACT Units, (Unit #280) Don Premo, (Unit #267) Gordon Leimbach, (Unit #261) Jim Spinks, (Unit #242) Alan Fields and Team President (Unit #234) Ken Knopp checked in and were put on standby to be dispatched if needed as a relief crew. Neighboring REACT teams from Virginia, District of Colombia and Maryland checked on the NCRI UHF Repeater System (.675) and stood by to provide assistance if required.

Montgomery County REACT Communications Officer (Unit #273) Mike Harvey after gathering additional information went to assist with operations at the shelter. County buses soon dropped off the passengers of the MARC Commuter Train. This teenage group was noticeably saddened at the smaller number of people now in their group. 8 members of their group were fatally injured in the accident. An additional 3 MARC Commuter Train conductors and engineers were also killed.

Montgomery County REACT provided communications and logistics support to the American Red Cross and various county agencies at the shelter from 1900 to 2400 hrs when the shelter operation was terminated. The school was then used as an offsite Critical Incident Stress Debriefing station for the crews of the first arriving emergency apparatus.

Current NTSB reports fault the engineer of the MARC train with failing to remember a yellow signal (half speed = 30 mph) that was displayed prior to reaching a drop off station. After stopping the engineer accelerated to normal speed (60mph) from the station. It is speculated that he saw the red (stop) signal and the approaching AMTRAK train crossing over the switch area. Realizing a collision was imminent he activated the emergency brake and ran through the train yelling for people to get down on the floor. 20 seconds later upon impact the MARC train had slowed to 40mph. The Amtrak locomotive sliced into the passenger car (lead car) of the MARC train. The diesel tank of the AMTRAK train was torn open and its fuel ignited. The MARC train was quickly filled with intense heat, smoke and fire.

More information including pictures can be viewed at the following Internet location:
http://www-cgi.cnn.com/US/9602/train_crash/index.html or a search of the www.cnn.com server.

Montgomery County REACT wishes to thank surrounding REACT teams in the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan area for the support they received as this incident unfolded. Thank You for standing ready to provide MUTUAL-AID at a moments notice. The ability to provide additional relief staffing was a valuable resource that is all too often overlooked during the height of an incident. As Montgomery County REACT Team President, I extend my personal thanks to all members of Montgomery County REACT for your professionalism and dedication to achieving a high standards of reliability to the citizens and visitors of Montgomery County Maryland.