| KCS AC4400CW 2040 and GP40-2 4813 were receiving attention at the railroad’s West Yard in New Orleans so they could be sent to the BNSF for permanent repairs. These had been the second and third units on KCS New Orleans-Kansas City train 10 when they were sideswiped by ATSF C40-8W 902 on BNSF Memphis-Houston train H-MEMPTR at 3AM on 20 December 2000. The lead unit on KCS 10 was AC4400CW 2018 and it was not damaged.The accident took place on the IC on the west side of the New Orleans area at Orleans Junction, and was caused by the IC crew on H-MEMPTR running a red signal. KCS 10 was exercising trackage rights over the IC and was crossing over from the northbound to the southbound main when its trailing units were struck by the BNSF train. H-MEMPTR was detouring over the IC from Memphis to New Orleans because of weather-related problems on the UP in Arkansas, so the BNSF was responsible for the repairs. ATSF 902 ended up lying on its left side, BNSF SD40M-2 7302 was partially derailed, and NS C40-9W 9126 sustained some damage. |