The above picture is from the 3 page preliminary report on the accident found by clicking on the first item in the
NTSB Docket - Docket Management System
"On September 25, 2021, about 3:47 p.m. local time, westbound National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) train 7 (also known as the Empire Builder) carrying 154 people derailed in a right-hand curve at milepost 1014.57 on the BNSF Railway (BNSF) Hi Line Subdivision near Joplin, Montana.1 (See figure.) As a result of the derailment, 3 passengers died, and 44 passengers and crew were transported to local hospitals with injuries. Damage was estimated by Amtrak to be over $22 million."
There is a lot of information to be found it the documents attached in the referenced site that I have yet to go through. However, here are some of the things on the track with a few of my comments thrown in
.
From the employee timetable pages in these documents, mileposts in the locality:
971.0 Burnham
1011.9 Joplin end double track (shown as No. 24 turnout on profile.) Main 1 is straight side.
1014.57 derailment location
1014.8 begin Buelow siding (shown as 1014.7 on profile)
1016.7 end Buelow siding
1024.0 Chester
1065.5 Shelby east, begin double track
1065.8 Shelby
1090.0 Cut Bank
Maximum Speed Limits: 79P/60F. If train has over 100 tons per operating brake, 55
Nearest adjacent speed restrictions
End 993.3: 70P/60F
Joplin end double track 1011.9: 50 all trains
Begin 1023.0: 70P/60F
Beulow siding turnouts: 35 all trains (shown as No. 20 turnout on profile, hence very conservative speed.)
Straight track just beyond end 1d33m curve (that would be 3,697 feet radius)
(GHH: On the profile, the curve appears to be between about mileposts 1014.34 and 1014.62. Speed calcs for this curve: Balance superelevation for this radius, 6.77 inches for 79mph, 3.91 inches for 60mph.
(EDIT) Actual superelevation per trackwalker is 4 1/2 inches.) Balance speed for this superelevation would be 64.4 mph.)
Grade: up 0.93% westbound on profile.
Elevation appears to be about 3,350 feet on the track profile.
Rail shown as 132RE laid in 1986.