On July 6, 2024, about 1:36 a.m. local time, a Union Pacific Railroad (UP) conductor was fatally injured during a shoving operation in UP’s Proviso Yard in Melrose Park, Illinois.1 At the time of the accident, Train MPRNL-06 was traveling east out of Proviso Yard 4, Track 12, onto the South Melrose Track. At the same time, Train MCBCH-05 was shoving west on the City Lead Track toward Track 12. The conductor of train MCBCH-05 was positioned on the leading end of a tank car when the car ran into the left side of train MPRNL-06, fatally injuring the train MCBCH-05 conductor. (See figure.) No further injuries were reported. At the time of this report, UP estimated accident damages at over $71,000. Visibility conditions at the time of the accident were clear, unobstructed, and dark; the only direct lighting available was from a single lantern and headlamp in use by the train MCBCH-05 conductor at the time of the accident. The weather was 64°F with no precipitation.

​Train MPRNL-06’s consist included 64 loaded cars and 27 empties for a total of 91 railcars; Train MCBCH-05’s consist included 33 loaded cars and 12 empties for a total of 45 railcars. Each train had a two-person crew: an engineer and a conductor.

On the day of the accident, train MPRNL-06 was scheduled to depart Track 12, after which the crew of train MCBCH-05 was scheduled to tie down on Track 12, cut the engines away, and relocate the engines to the diesel shop. Prior to the accident, the Proviso Yard controller (formally known as the yardmaster) provided a job briefing to the crew of train MCBCH-05, where he instructed the crew to stop and wait at the top of the City Lead Track, which ties into the South Melrose Track before entering Proviso Yard 4. Once train MPRNL-06 was clear, train MCBCH-05 was to shove into Track 12 in Proviso Yard 4.

Once train MCBCH-05 pulled past the Melrose Park Metro Station, the conductor got on the rear of the train, waited for a signal from the dispatcher to begin moving, then shoved the train west onto City Lead Track. As part of the shoving movement, train MCBCH-05 was traveling northwest up a winding incline on City Lead Track with the conductor riding the leading end and protecting the shove movement. The conductor ultimately shoved the train past the top of City Lead Track and into the left side of train MPRNL-06 just prior to the switch between City Lead Track and South Melrose Track, fatally injuring the train MCBCH-05 conductor.​

​While on scene, National Transportation Safety Board investigators reviewed event recorder data and radio communications, training programs, and company operating procedures; conducted an accident reenactment, a track inspection, and a sight-distance observation; and completed interviews.

The National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation is ongoing. Future investigative activity will focus on the conductor training standards, operational rules for riding equipment, and the design and riding configuration of the railcar involved in this accident.

Parties to the investigation include: