Train Engineer Has 'No Memory' Of Hoboken Crash As Other Problems Arise In Probe

As Orange and Rockland County commuters struggle with alternatives to the Pascack Valley and Port Jervis commuter train lines, investigators say they've run into some problems that could impede the investigation into last week's fatal Hoboken train crash.

Hoboken Station remains closed to trains.

The engineer of the New Jersey train that crashed in Hoboken on Thursday, killing one and injuring 108 others, told investigators that he has "no memory" of the crash and that he felt "fully rested," according to Bella Dinh-Zarr, vice-chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board.

"He remembers waking up on the floor of the cab," she said.

Also, the event recorder, the so-called "black box" which was built in 1995, was not working - possibly because "that's quite an old event recorder." NTSB officials are working to recover a second recorder that likely remains inside the wreckage at the now-closed train station, according to Dinh-Zahr.

"We want to get in and get the exact speed of the train," said Dinh-Zahr. "We're unable to do that - unfortunately, one of the event recorders was not working."

Din-Zahr said the engineer, Thomas Gallagher, was hired in 1987 and became a fully-qualified engineer in 2000. On the day of the crash, Gallagher felt fully rested, investigators say. His cell phone, which he kept inside his personal backpack, was turned off.

He also told investigators that he was going 10 mph when he approached the Hoboken station.

The engineer and conductor, who was not identified, went on-duty soon after 6:30 a.m., and the conductor on the train "didn't notice anything unusual" about the engineer's behavior when the Pascack Valley Line train left the Spring Valley station that morning.

The conductor, who was not identified, also didn't notice anything unusual about the speed of the train - only that the train was very crowded, Dinh-Zahr said.

Gallagher said he was able to operate the train normally, and there was clear visibility approaching the station, according to investigators. He blew his horn as he approached the station, checked his speedometer and noticed that the train was 6 minutes late.

But that was the last thing he remembered.

"The engineer said he has no memory of the accident," Dinh Zahr said.

The NTSB also determined the following:

• Though investigators interviewed the train engineer, no interview summaries will be provided until interviews are completed.
• Environmental and structural issues still prevent removal of the train from the station. Extensive debris removal must be completed before investigators can access the train and then have the train removed.
• With the assistance of NJ Transit, investigators obtained video from other trains that were at the Hoboken Terminal, to see what those cameras captured from the accident event.
• The event recorder from the trailing locomotive No. 4214 has arrived at the recorder manufacturer’s facility in Kentucky, and NTSB personnel are supervising the attempted download.
• There were no signal anomalies found on the tracks leading to the terminal. A full signal study cannot yet be completed because the train remains in the terminal.
• Investigators completed the walking inspection of the track and found nothing that would have affected the performance of the train.

The victim has been identified by authorities as Fabiola Bittar de Kroon, 34, of Hoboken. Gov. Chris Christie said de Kroon was hit by debris on the platform when the train crashed.

Read update: Tears For Young Mother Killed In Hoboken Train Crash As Probe Continues

New Jersey officials confirmed that in addition to the fatality, 108 people were injured in the 8:45 a.m. crash. The Federal Rail Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have been on scene since Thursday to investigate.

Meanwhile, NJ Transit plans for commuters will remain in effect “until further notice.”

“All rail service into and out of Hoboken Terminal remains suspended,” NJ Transit officials stated. “Hudson-Bergen Light Rail service has been restored into and out of Hoboken and will continue to operate on a full weekday schedule. Cross honoring with PATH, ferries, NJ Transit bus and private carriers will continue until further notice.”

RAIL TRAVEL
According to NJ Transit:

• Main, Bergen, Pascack Valley and Port Jervis lines will continue to operate on a weekend schedule originating/terminating in Secaucus, with stops at Teterboro and Woodcliff Lake stations (weekdays only).

In addition, Metro-North will provide the following alternate weekday service plan until further notice:

Bus Service Option

In addition to the train service provided by NJTRANSIT, MTA Metro-North will provide supplemental shuttle bus service for Metro-North customers that will operate during peak hours as follows:

• Harriman Station (to Tarrytown Station on the Hudson Line) between 3:45 A.M. and 8:30 A.M. (Inbound service) and 3:45 P.M. and 8:30 P.M. (outbound service from Grand Central Terminal)

This weekday, rush-hour, peak direction only shuttle service will be limited. There will be no off-peak, weekend or reverse commute service.

Rockland County's TAPPAN ZEExpress bus service is honoring all NJ Transit rail tickets until further notice.

Ferry Service Options

Some parking is available for Metro-North customers at the two Metro-North ferry services that connect with our Hudson Line train service.

Newburgh-Beacon Ferry Service

Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry Service

Parking Options

Some parking is available at Metro-North's Cortlandt Station on the Hudson Line and the North White Plains Station on the Harlem Line. You can also access parking information online for other stations at Metro-North's parking info page .

Other Options

Use existing bus services: From Rockland the Tappan ZEExpress; from Orange County use the Newburgh Beacon Shuttle.

The TAPPAN ZEExpress bus service is honoring all NJ Transit rail tickets until further notice.

By Patch Editor Tom Davis. Editor Lanning Taliaferro contributed to this report. Photo: Eric Kiefer

Send local news tips, photos and press releases to lanning.taliaferro@patch.com