I don't believe the body of the story read that way. Only thing reported by anyone to authorities was a report of 3.1 million dollars damage, in the body of the news story. There was a headline of human error, but mention in the story is that another newspaper stated that such reports had been submitted to FRA, without saying by whom. The story did say that one of the trains backed up to pick up a crewman, but did not attribute that info to any particular spokesperson. The story did not say that FRA had released any findings.
One of the photos shows a possible control point signal-- two 3(?) lens units in a vertical line. Difficult to tell on which line or which way it faced. The acute angle crossing appeared to be two switches points to points. --Frank
Now edited to reflect 2 hours further investigation into this story: No FRA report has been released at this time, and the list of such reports suggests it will be close to another 18 months at the earliest. What was released were the Form 54 reports of accident made by the two railroads. It was mandatory that those reports be made at the time, and noted on the form face that they cannot be used in any legal proceeding. This is the source of the damage amount and the fact that the CN train was southbound (not mentioned in papers); the other train northbound (not mentioned), but making a backup move at the time (mentioned). Backup would have been southward (not mentioned) but made clear on the Form 54, and that it was to pick up an employee.
Among the newspaper reports at the time was one in the Milwaukee Journal that the signals were being investigated. Both railroads reported their lines as single main (CN/WC class 4, the other WSOR class 2) and signaled [at least at the point of accident--my comment]. The accident occurred at 8:34 pm July 20 this year, 70 F, dark, clear, as a side collision, CN speed 38, WSOR speed 2 shoving. Maintenance of the common track is by WC. [I do not know nor do the photos show how far apart the two sets of points of the crossing are.][Google map Slinger may show this.] The newspaper stories do no mention any sources who preferred not to be named. Bottom line: There has as yet been no published finding by the FRA of human error.
[One of the Form 54's (WC) states that WSOR had *not* obtained permission to enter WC trackage, although the form indicates that operation is by signal indication, and that a CTC system is present. The WSOR train had 64 cars, 4431 trailing tons shoved by 2 engines; and the CN 71 loaded & 27 empty, 10549 tons pulled by 3 engines. Both trains had 2 crew, engineer and conductor; CN on duty 9h 34m, WSOR on duty 5h 34m. The sideswipe began at the 61 car.] [*not* added as a further correction] --Frank
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PS-- I can sort these things out because of my 3 complete trips through the whole of the English grammar in the course of my 11 different grammar schools while an Army brat (not to mention my 3 high schools).