As part of its ongoing investigation of the 2014 derailment of a crude oil unit train in Casselton, North Dakota, the National Transportation Safety Board has produced a Train Braking Simulation Study, which it placed into the investigation docket.

Residents of the tiny town of Heimdal, North Dakota and people on surrounding farms were evacuated yesterday after a BNSF train carrying crude oil derailed, causing ten cars to become engulfed in flames.

VPP problems, the NTSB’s “Ten Most Wanted” and water woes in West Virginia were among this week’s most-read EHS-related stories on ISHN.com:

The Dec. 30^th train accident near Casselton, North Dakota caused an estimated $6.1 in damage – and promoted the evacuation of 1,400 residents. A preliminary report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) lays out the facts and figures behind the derailments and collision involving two BNSF Railway trains, but does not identify a cause.

The EHS year in review, dangerous noise, ASSE extends its global reach and the explosion of a train carrying crude oil in North Dakota were among this week’s top stories on ISHN.com.