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Trains News Wire FLASH: Crude oil train derails in Alabama, fire and explosions reported
Mr. Deeds could be correct, but how does he arrive at that conclusion based on the article. Further, how, based on this article, does Mr. Norton know there was not a crewman on the rear? The article must be lacking a lot of information, and the comments become useless unless they state the facts to support the conclusions.
this is the old Frisco line
This is not near as bad as another wreck. No one was injured. Wreck in the middle of nowhere. Only 1 family evacuated. And they are back home. Spill contained Yes expensive. Genessee and Wyoming had management who could communicate with the press. NTSB will investigate. And everyone will forget this in a week.
Sounds like train was to heavy for the trestle.
Not much of a train with only twelve cars according to CBS News web site.
Here we go again!
Here we go again!
Here we go again!
Wonder if a crewman on the rear could have prevented this?
The article does not state where the twenty cars that were derailed were, but if two of the engines also were derailed, the cars probably were at the headend. I doubt that someone on the rear of the train (seventy cars away) could have done anything to prevent the derailment.
I hope the recent string of accidents doesn’t derail the dramatic growth in crude oil traffic, or the growth in North American oil and gas production.
Damn . . . and we were always told this stuff was relatively safe. I recently read that the byproduct chemicals used in fracking might be the culprit.
Whatever the cause this needs to be fixed or this revenue windfall is going to be taken away and rail’s reputation is going to be in big trouble.
This is such a troubling and unfortunate situation.
Who is responsible for ‘placarding’ the cars? O’Bummer’s TSB? Place the blame where warranted. I don’t want them trains passing thru my community, BHO! Get yo’ head out of yo’… Sorry. It is already full or Progressive crap!
Mr. Deeds goes to Michigan to study English.
@Mr. Hays, you cut the “crap”. I’m no fan of the president, believe me. But to lay on him the growth of the oil boom from the Bakken Formation and its attendant CBR growth is disgraceful and just plain wrong.
This is a forum for commenting on rail issues and rail news stories when it comes to freight railroading. It’s not a venue for Right or Left politics.
There may be a reason for that kind of commentary when it comes to Amtrak and transit since politics plays a strong role in the funding for those services. Indeed, I have commented harshly on these pages at the Obama administration for utterly botching the promised program to rebuild and restore passenger rail into the mainstream of transportation options. But when it comes to events like hazmat derailments lets leave the politics out.
@Mr. Hays, you cut the “crap”. I’m no fan of the president, believe me. But to lay on him the growth of the oil boom from the Bakken Formation and its attendant CBR growth is disgraceful and just plain wrong.
This is a forum for commenting on rail issues and rail news stories when it comes to freight railroading. It’s not a venue for Right or Left politics.
There may be a reason for that kind of commentary when it comes to Amtrak and transit since politics plays a strong role in the funding for those services. Indeed, I have commented harshly on these pages at the Obama administration for utterly botching the promised program to rebuild and restore passenger rail into the mainstream of transportation options. But when it comes to events like hazmat derailments lets leave the politics out.
I hope the major rail companies aren’t funneling hazardous cargo to smaller and likely not as well maintained lines to reduce their risks while increasing risks to short line/regionals (and communities along these routes) that may be more desperate for the revenue.
To W. Hays, the shipper is responsible for all placarding at time of loading…the rail carrier just shows up to pick up the cars, they don’t open them to inspect, nor would the crew no what they are looking at…that’s what the BOL or manifest is for.
For years people complained that we were beholden to foreign countries for our oil, now that we produce enough and move toward self-sufficiency, the same people now complain that they don’t want it moving through their community! Some days you just can’t win!
This derailment is very similar to the wreck that happen on G&W sister road Meridian & Bigbee, where a train hauling space shuttle boosters derailed account the trestles the train traversed collasped due to weight of the train. It would seem that G&W management maybe have not upgraded or done the necessary inspections of bridges on this line to handle the weight of these trains safely.