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The crew of the Northfolk Southern train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, tried to stop the train when they heard an alarm warning that wheel bearings hit “critical” temperatures, according to a preliminary federal report.
The National Transportation Safety Board report said the heat of the wheel bearings on the train cars set off an alarm, prompting the crew to try to stop the train moments before it derailed.
“The wayside defect detector, or hot bearing detector (HBD), transmitted a critical audible alarm message instructing the crew to slow and stop the train to inspect a hot axle,” the report said. “After the train stopped, the crew observed fire and smoke and notified the Cleveland East dispatcher of a possible derailment.
