Originally Posted by NTSB

On January 12, 1997, at 11:52 a.m., a Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) freight train derailed after an accelerated descent beyond the 20-mph speed limit down Cima Hill near Kelso, California. The engineer accidentally activated the engine shutdown switch, which shut off the locomotive unit diesel engines and eliminated the train's dynamic braking capability. The train eventually reached a speed of 72 mph and derailed 68 of its 75 cars. There were no fatalities. The total damage was $4,376,400.

The engine shutdown switch, located on the left side of the console where the engineer's knee might have rested, was found still depressed after the accident. Neither the engineer nor the conductor was aware of what caused the shutdown. Therefore, they took no action to reactivate the system.