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Passengers Back On Excursion Train After Wreck

SPRINGDALE (KFSM) – Passengers were back on the Arkansas and Missouri excursion train that wrecked Thursday (Oct.16). That was the first trip since the he...

SPRINGDALE (KFSM) - Passengers were back on the Arkansas and Missouri excursion train that wrecked Thursday (Oct.16). That was the first trip since the head on collision that injured dozens of people.

Federal investigators said oil from leaves on the track might have cause the train to lose traction and stall.

The railroad company said four of the cars involved were back out on the tracks Thursday (Oct.23). Investigators said they have each been inspected and are good to go. But this time they took some extra safety precautions.

A track inspector in a rail truck took a ride a couple miles ahead of the train to act as a scout and to make sure no leaves or other obstructions were on the track that could have caused issues.

Officials said freight trains have already been running over the track where the crash took place.

Passengers in Springdale said they weren't nervous to begin the excursion. " I think we are safer then what they had before, "said Donna Marshall. "I'm not really nervous," said Roseanne Burke. "People with their official jackets on are double and triple checking, they wouldn't let us on if they didn't know it was ready."

The excursion trip from Springdale to Van Buren lasts a couple of hours. It pulled into Van Buren without any incidents. Federal investigators said a preliminary report of the incident is expected in about a week.

 

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