The following information is summarized from an article in the Star-Ledger published on Thursday, 2/22/07. ("3 blamed for train that left the track" by Tom Feeney)
A NJ transit commuter train carrying 100 passengers derailed at Ridgewood Junction during the morning rush hour Wednesday, 2/21/07. Three of five cars left the tracks. No passengers or crew were injured. The train was going about 36 mph at the time. Ridgewood Junction is where the Main and Bergen County lines converge. As a result of the derailment there were significant delays throughout the day on the Main, Bergen County, and Port Jervis lines. Service was nearly back to normal by late in the evening.
Cause of the derailment? An improperly installed switch. The rails were too close together. "The rails are supposed to be 58 1/2 [sic] inches apart but were separated by only 54 1/2 inches." (Bloggers note: I thought rails were supposed to be 56 1/2 inches apart.) The switch had been replaced 10 days earlier, and hundreds of trains had passed through Ridgewood Junction since that time without incident. Three employees that were involved in the switch replacement and inspection were suspended - a track supervisor and two track foremen. They face administrative hearings.