On This Day in 2005, Graniteville Train Crash
On the morning of January 6, 2005, just before 2:40 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, a northbound Norfolk Southern freight train designated Train 192 collided with a parked Norfolk Southern local train, known as Train P22, near the Avondale Mills textile plant in Graniteville, South Carolina. The collision occurred when Train 192 encountered a railroad switch that had been left improperly aligned, diverting it from the main line onto a siding where P22 was standing. Emergency braking was applied, but there was insufficient distance to stop before the collision took place.
The force of the impact derailed both lead locomotives and sixteen of the forty-two freight cars of Train 192, as well as the lone locomotive and one car of the parked Train P22. Among the derailed cars of the moving train were three pressurised chlorine tank cars. One of these tank cars was breached in the collision, releasing a large quantity of liquid chlorine that rapidly vaporised into a dense cloud of toxic gas.
Chlorine gas is a highly toxic inhalation hazard, and the release in Graniteville quickly created a life-threatening situation for residents, workers, and first responders. Nine people died immediately from chlorine exposure, including the train engineer and several mill employees. A tenth fatality later occurred due to health complications related to the accident, bringing the total deaths associated with the crash to ten.
In the immediate aftermath, hundreds of people experienced respiratory difficulties from exposure to the chlorine cloud. About 554 individuals sought medical evaluation at local hospitals, and 75 of them were admitted for further treatment. Local emergency services, including the Graniteville-Vaucluse-Warrenville Fire Department and Aiken County Emergency Medical Services, were among the initial responders dealing with the hazardous materials incident and the widespread health impacts.
The release of chlorine forced the evacuation of approximately 5,400 residents and workers within a one-mile radius of the derailment site. Evacuation orders remained in place for several days as hazardous materials teams and cleanup crews worked to manage the gas, monitor air quality, and make the area safe for return.
An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable cause of the collision was the failure of the crew of Train P22 to properly align the main line switch after parking the train on the siding. Investigators found that this misalignment directly led to Train 192 being diverted into the occupied track. The NTSB emphasised that adherence to prescribed procedures for switch alignment in non-signalled territory is critical to preventing similar accidents involving hazardous materials.