(The following story by Jon Schmitz appeared on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette website on March 17, 2010. Andrew Monheim was a member of BLET Division 700.)
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — The Federal Railroad Administration is investigating the collision of two freight trains near U.S. Steel’s Edgar Thomson Plant in North Braddock early Tuesday. The engineer of one train was killed.
The Allegheny County medical examiner identified the victim as Andrew Monheim, 54, of Plum.
The trains were operated by Union Railroad, part of Transtar Inc., a transportation subsidiary of U.S. Steel, company spokeswoman Erin DiPietro said. Mr. Monheim was a 35-year employee of the railroad.
The collision occurred shortly after 4 a.m. where two sets of tracks converge on the south bank of Turtle Creek in North Versailles. An empty train operated by Mr. Monheim struck a train carrying iron ore pellets to the plant, striking the eighth car and causing some of the cargo to spill.
Mr. Monheim was ejected from the train and could not immediately be located. His body was found beneath the spilled cargo after rescue crews dialed his cell phone and heard it ringing, said North Versailles Police Chief Vincent DiCenzo Jr.
“We don’t know if there was a medical problem, a mechanical failure or driver error,” he said. “From our understanding neither train was going very fast.”
Mr. Monheim was pronounced dead at 8:59 a.m.
Four Federal Railroad Administration inspectors were at the crash site on Tuesday afternoon, agency spokesman Rob Kulat said. Video equipment and data recorders called black boxes were recovered from the trains, he said.
The investigation could take up to a year, he said.
Allegheny County homicide detectives also were investigating, county spokesman Kevin Evanto said.
Ms. DiPietro said no other injuries were reported. Diesel fuel leaking from a locomotive was contained by an environmental contractor, she said.
The steel and railroad companies issued a statement expressing condolences to Mr. Monheim’s family and friends.
“The Union Railroad is fully cooperating with all agencies involved in the investigation, including the Federal Railroad Administration,” the statement said.
Plant operations were not affected by the collision as alternate rail lines were used, Ms. DiPietro said.
According to federal safety records, Union Railroad had no fatal accidents and one reported injury in the last 10 years. The injury occurred in 2003.
The Edgar Thomson plant is part of U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works and produces steel slabs.