NJ Transit employee is killed by wayward locomotive

By Mike Frassinelli/The Star-Ledger

June 01, 2010, 2:15PM

Jennifer Brown/The Star-LedgerA police officer stands near the entrance to NJ Transit train platforms in New York Penn Station in this 2004 file photo.

KEARNY — An NJ Transit worker who shuttled engines in a railroad yard died after he was struck by a wayward locomotive early Monday.

Greg Kastner, 63, a 7-year employee who worked as a "hostler," had just finished fueling his engine and was walking back to another locomotive when he was struck around 3:30 a.m. at the Meadows Maintenance Facility yard, NJ Transit officials said today.

The transit agency is conducting an investigation with the Federal Railroad Administration in attendance, but preliminary reports indicated that the locomotive’s braking system had not been engaged, NJ Transit officials said.

"Our deepest condolences go out to Mr. Kastner’s family, friends and co-workers," NJ Transit executive director Jim Weinstein said today in a statement. "We are conducting a thorough investigation of this matter to fully understand all of the facts of this unfortunate loss."