Train derailments and explosions and chemical spills

[Niall]

SEPTA train hit by projectile minutes before Amtrak crash in Philly

The Philadelphia Inquirer - Wed. May 13, 2015 - Just before Tuesday's deadly Amtrak derailment, a SEPTA commuter train in the same corridor was crippled by a projectile sent through the engineer's window.

SEPTA officials said their investigation was continuing, but that there was no immediate indication the two incidents were related.

At about 9:25 p.m. Tuesday, SEPTA's northbound Train 769, en route to Trenton on tracks on the Northeast Corridor beside the Amtrak rails, was struck by "an unknown projectile" that broke the engineer's window, SEPTA spokeswoman Jerri Williams said.

No injuries were reported and the train was held at the North Philadelphia station. The 80 passengers were transferred to buses.

About three minutes later and four miles away, near Frankford Junction, Amtrak's northbound Train 188 derailed on the Northeast Corridor tracks, killing at least six and injuring more than 200.

The cause of the derailment is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Railroad Administration.

"There is no indication at this time that the two incidents are related in any way," Williams said early today.

They are now investigating the possibility of the Amtrak train having also been 'struck' by something...

Amtrak train may have been struck before crash - NTSB

Speaking to reporters at the last Philadelphia-based briefing, Robert Sumwalt of the National Transportation Safety Board said his investigators have interviewed the engineer and two other crew members from the Amtrak 188 train, describing them as “traumatized” and not yet fully recovered from their injuries.

One of the conductors testified she had heard an engineer aboard a local SEPTA train reporting “either being hit by a rock, or shot at,” and putting his train into an emergency stop with a broken windshield, Sumwalt said. The conductor believes she heard the Amtrak engineer reporting “something about his train being struck by something” as well. [...]

The NTSB has not independently confirmed the information, but investigators have seen damage to the “left-hand lower portion” of the Amtrak train’s windshield. The Bureau has asked FBI crime scene teams to examine the Amtrak locomotive, which showed a “circular pattern emanating outward,” perhaps caused by an external object.

 

[Niall]

Everything's coming off the rails these days!

Train carrying gravel derails outside Pleasanton, Texas

A Union Pacific train derailed outside of Pleasanton early Friday.

No one was injured.

Union Pacific spokesman Jeff DeGraff said 32 cars carrying pea gravel went off the tracks around 2:30 a.m.

The train came from Chicago and was headed for San Miguel to deliver the gravel to a power plant, DeGraff said

The cleanup is expected to take most of Friday and possibly into Saturday, DeGraff said. [...]

A cause is under investigation, but weather was believed to be a factor, DeGraff said.

 

[angelburst29]

This incident is not a train derailment or explosion, but a railway worker's death in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, struck by a locomotive in the city's CNR yards this past month. It was reported on the CBC's news website, but I was unable to locate it.

Anyway, the locomotive engineer is my brother's son-in-law (which I didn't find out until a few days ago.) Apparently there were three other people in the engine cab: a trainee and two officials. When John (not his real name) saw the victim on the tracks he blew the horn and applied the brakes, but either the victim didn't hear it or just ignored it, and was subsequently hit and killed instantly. The victim was a thirty-year employee. I'm not sure what the autopsy found or didn't find, but John was cleared of any wrong doing in the ensuing investigation.

Just thought this should be added to the list.

Hi Redrock, so sorry to hear of the incident.

Not sure if this is the report?

http://railroadworkersunited.org/railroaders-killed-on-the-job/

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - April 9, 2015 - A CN conductor, later identified as 51 year old Kevin Timmerman from Melville, Sask, died as a result of injuries from an accident while working at a CN rail yard in Saskatoon. He was transported to Royal University Hospital where he later died. His mother, Joan, was quoted as saying, "He was very conscientious about his job." and that he was looking forward to his retirement once he reached the age of 55. The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) said it is investigating the accident.


CN worker dead in accident at Saskatoon rail yard
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/cn-worker-dead-in-accident-at-saskatoon-rail-yard/article23877321/

A Canadian National Railway Co. conductor is dead after an incident at rail yard in Saskatoon on Thursday night.

The Transportation Safety Board said it is investigating the accident, but had few details to share on Friday and was referring calls to CN.

“A CN conductor was killed while performing his duties. The situation is under assessment right now,” the TSB’s Julie Leroux said by phone.

“This is a tragic occurrence and our thoughts are with the employee’s family and friends. All circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation,” said CN spokesman Patrick Waldron. In an e-mail, he said no further details were available.

 

[Redrock12]

Yes, that's the incident. Thanks angelburst.

 

[angelburst29]

Severe Weather Derails Train Carrying Hazardous Material in Kansas (video)
http://videowall.accuweather.com/detail/videos/top-videos/video/4242623578001/severe-weather-derails-train-carrying-hazardous-material-in-kansas?autoStart=true&utm_source=accuweather&utm_medium=accuweather&utm_campaign=awx_videowal_lin

Monday May 18, 2015; 9:45 AM ET Hazmat crews were called out after 34 train cars derailed from the track in Lyon County, Kansas. Reports say a twister likely blew over the rail cars which were carrying hazardous material.

 

[angelburst29]

SEPTA train hit by projectile minutes before Amtrak crash in Philly

The Philadelphia Inquirer - Wed. May 13, 2015 - Just before Tuesday's deadly Amtrak derailment, a SEPTA commuter train in the same corridor was crippled by a projectile sent through the engineer's window.

SEPTA officials said their investigation was continuing, but that there was no immediate indication the two incidents were related.

At about 9:25 p.m. Tuesday, SEPTA's northbound Train 769, en route to Trenton on tracks on the Northeast Corridor beside the Amtrak rails, was struck by "an unknown projectile" that broke the engineer's window, SEPTA spokeswoman Jerri Williams said.

No injuries were reported and the train was held at the North Philadelphia station. The 80 passengers were transferred to buses.

About three minutes later and four miles away, near Frankford Junction, Amtrak's northbound Train 188 derailed on the Northeast Corridor tracks, killing at least six and injuring more than 200.

The cause of the derailment is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Railroad Administration.

"There is no indication at this time that the two incidents are related in any way," Williams said early today.

They are now investigating the possibility of the Amtrak train having also been 'struck' by something...

Amtrak train may have been struck before crash - NTSB

Speaking to reporters at the last Philadelphia-based briefing, Robert Sumwalt of the National Transportation Safety Board said his investigators have interviewed the engineer and two other crew members from the Amtrak 188 train, describing them as “traumatized” and not yet fully recovered from their injuries.

One of the conductors testified she had heard an engineer aboard a local SEPTA train reporting “either being hit by a rock, or shot at,” and putting his train into an emergency stop with a broken windshield, Sumwalt said. The conductor believes she heard the Amtrak engineer reporting “something about his train being struck by something” as well. [...]

The NTSB has not independently confirmed the information, but investigators have seen damage to the “left-hand lower portion” of the Amtrak train’s windshield. The Bureau has asked FBI crime scene teams to examine the Amtrak locomotive, which showed a “circular pattern emanating outward,” perhaps caused by an external object.

Hi Niall, this article reports, "The FBI is looking into whether there is any link between three different trains that were all apparently hit by objects just a few miles apart, within a few minutes, the night of the deadly Amtrak derailment." Video and additional photo's at link.


The Amtrak Crash: Why The FBI Lied And Why It Is No Freak Accident Lending The Possibility Of A Terror Attack
http://shoebat.com/2015/05/17/the-amtrak-crash-why-the-fbi-lied-and-why-it-is-no-freak-accident-lending-the-possibility-of-a-terror-attack/

When the tragic Amtrak crash happened, initially, the media and the FBI reported that foul play or terrorism was ruled out. When this misinformation came out on the 13th of this month, Shoebat.com reported on the same day, that such reports are not likely accurate, and that foul play or terrorism cannot be ruled out:

Prior to these reports, Shoebat.com even provided photos of the Amtrak train showing that a projectile also have hit the derailed Amtrak train:

The SEPTA incident which is a confirmed projectile also shows a similar concentric window shatter, a confirmed “projectile”:

The third train was “another Amtrak train, a southbound Acela train that was apparently hit in a passenger window” as ABC reported. The SEPTA “train personnel believed someone had shot at them” which “Philadelphia transit police dispatchers can be heard on scanner audio from Tuesday night, warning that a commuter train may have been shot at.”

Such concentrated shatter holes are not easily formed by flying debris. Train driver windows are 223 Type 1 standard windows which have “minimum requirements for glazing materials in order to protect railroad employees and railroad passengers from injury as a result of objects striking the windows of locomotives”.

The driver’s window are not the same as the side windows of passenger trains which must meet Type II standards. According to federal standards, the driver windows need to have glazing that will withstand a 40 grain .22 caliber bullet travelling at 960 feet per second, or a 24 lb cinderblock travelling at 44 feet per second.

debris are unlikely to have caused such damage. From the Amtrak driver photo one can see what seems like a possible bullet size hole which may rule out that such “projectile” was a rock.

One could argue that the derailment shattered the Amtrak train’s windshield, but this was rejected by Robert L. Sumwalt, the safety board official who is leading the investigation said “there were concentric circles on the lower left corner of the glass.” Concentrated circles are not caused by a crash trauma, but by a projectile.

The NTSB said that the second Amtrak train (third incident) — this one headed south — that had a window shattered in the same area around the same time. NBC reported that “on southbound Amtrak Acela 2173 and nearing the Philadelphia 30th Street Station around 9:20 p.m. when he was jolted by the sound of an object hitting and shattering the window of his train car.”

 

[mabar]

This time in India

Train derails while navigating bridge in India, multiple injuries (VIDEO)

A train has derailed in Assam, India, seriously injuring its driver and causing minor injuries to some passengers. The accident occurred as the train was about to cross a bridge.

The accident in Kokrajhar district occurred between Salakati and Basugaon at 5:15 a.m. local time Saturday, according to Northeast Frontier Railway spokesman Jayamta Sarma, as cited by India Today.

Officials said the train was running at a slow speed when the derailment happened, which is why there were not more serious injuries or deaths.

Footage from Ruptly shows the aftermath of the derailment, part of the train hanging from a bridge into the water below. Some passengers are seen walking from the train, one man with a makeshift sling around his right arm. The bridge's metal is also shown bent and destroyed.

The driver was admitted to the hospital, while some passengers were given first aid, Sarma said.

The train runs from Alipurduar in north Bengal to Guwahati in Assam. Authorities are working to restore rail traffic which has been hit because of the accident

 

[Wyatt Shipley]

Wed. May 6, 2015 - ‘Bomb train’ derails in North Dakota, explosion forces village evacuation
http://rt.com/usa/256193-north-dakota-train-blaze/

“Today’s incident is yet another reminder of why we issued a significant, comprehensive rule aimed at improving the safe transport of high hazard flammable liquids,” Feinberg said. “The FRA will continue to look at all options available to us to improve safety and mitigate risks.”

Massive Fire Rages After Another Buffett-Owned Oiltrain Derails In North Dakota, Town Evacuated
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-05-06/massive-fire-rages-after-another-buffett-owned-oiltrain-derails-north-dakota-town-ev

Wed. May 6, 2015 - Exactly two months after the latest Warren Buffett-owned BNSF train derailed near the spot where the Galena river meets the Mississippi, resulting in a huge fire and the evacuation of all homes in a one mile radius, moments ago another of Buffett's BNSF oil trains derailed, this time near the town of Heimdal, North Dakota, resulting in the same outcome.

According to the Bismark Tribune, the town in Wells County was evacuated Tuesday morning after a train full of oil tanker cars derailed and burned about a mile and half east of here.

Wells County Emergency Manager Tammy Roehrich said the BNSF Railway oil tanker train derailed around 7:30 a.m., setting six oil tanker cars on fire.

As a reminder, in 2013 another oil train, also owned by Buffett's Burlington Northern, derailed and led to the evacuation of the town of Casselton, and people living in a 5 mile radius.
KFYR TV adds fire crews from Harvey, Fessenden and Maddock have all been called in to fight the fire. An official with Harvey Fire says at least 5 oil tanker cars are burning.
Ironically, this happens days if not hours after US federal regulators were forced to devise new rules for oil trains after 141 oil train derailments and fires in 2014. However, as RT reported earlier today, the regulations have sparked criticism from nearly all interested parties, including politicians and activists.
The trains in question are often called “bomb trains” because their black, torpedo-shaped tanks are filled with potentially explosive crude oil. They are an increasingly common sight on the nation’s rail systems as they carry a million barrels of oil per day to refineries along the East Coast.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) spent two years formulating the recently released new train rules. The regulations introduce new tank car standards for oil and ethanol, and mandate the use of electronically controlled brakes.
"The truth is that 99.9 percent of these shipments reach their destination safely," DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx said to the press. "The accidents involving crude and ethanol that have occurred, though, have shown us that 99.9 percent isn't enough. We have to strive for perfection."

Wyatt here: While conspiracy theorists may seem like fruit loops (Especially with this Jade Helm) I have been reading about trains since I was old-enough to read. Yes, there have been accidents and I often attribute many to an over-relying on digital equipment, Stupidity(as in the Metrolink-Chatsworth Crash), human error(as in the over-loading of ore-cars) creating a RUNAWAY down Cajon Pass (I was there) and an unknown element that defies description. This unknown element (aka Murphy'y Law) is that if something can go wrong, It will go wrong; or a small insignificant situation Mushrooms into a series of events leading to a disaster. In studying some of these accidents, one often comes to a conclusion that these seemingly random set of events -- each cascaded to another, than another and finally---. It is true that 99.9% of the shipments reach their destination and all; but why did the AMTRAK engineer pass-out-- 8-Deaths? Why did the women not back-up off the railroad tracks? She looked right at the man who was yelling at her to back-up. An AMTRAK commuter hit the Mercedes SUV and she died. Why was the man walking on the tracks when a Metro-Link train hit him? (I was on the Metro-Link Train headed in the opposite direction; we stopped, backed up to the Rancho Cucamonga Station. Most all got off so to go by bus to Upland.) I was able to speak to some of the conductors and they said, "Suicide by train is becoming all to common and some lines have it twice a month." "Well at least he was on the tracks; If he was hit being near the tracks -- that would be bad," I said.
Maybe our Highly Technological oriented society is finding out that all of us are in over (way over) our heads and Technology isn't the Wonder Drug we all thought it was. Like I said, Technology, Train Wrecks, Jello Brained People, The Constant Sense of Entitlement, Lack of Compassionate Thinking and 7. something Billion People means we all do something or something does something to all of us. It was the BEST of times, It was the WORST of times-- :O

Best of Everything, Wyatt

 

[angelburst29]

Subway System in Toronto, Canada experiencing problems:

ENTIRE TORONTO SUBWAY SYSTEM halted because of ‘major communication issue’
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-subway-shutdown-causes-early-morning-commuter-chaos-1.3104230

Monday June 8, 2015 - TTC technicians still trying to understand what caused communication breakdown

A power outage and a failure of a backup power supply caused this morning's crippling subway shutdown, Toronto Transit Commission's CEO Andy Byford said on Monday afternoon.

A power surge hit the TTC's Hillcrest complex, which houses the main control centre, on Sunday night, forcing the system to rely on its "uninterrupted power supply."

A circuit board failure then caused the backup system's battery to drain completely around 5:30 a.m. ET, at which point the TTC's communications systems went down, triggering the subway shutdown which lasted until 7:35 a.m. and left thousands of commuters stranded during the rainy rush hour.

Byford said there was no way the trains could run without the communications system, likening the situation to trying to land planes without air traffic control radios.

The outage also stopped the TTC from alerting passengers about the major issues through its online and telephone systems.

"I absolutely understand customers' frustration," Byford told reporters at an afternoon news conference.

"Our reputation took a big hit this morning."

Shuttle buses, which are often the only alternative for transit riders during subway closures, didn't run during the service suspension, because it wasn't possible to replace the entire subway's capacity with buses, Byford said.

[...]

Speaking with reporters at city hall, Toronto Mayor John Tory said TTC officials have assured him that a "thorough investigation" is underway into how both the primary and backup communication system could fail simultaneously.

"These things are happening more often than they should in a sophisticated transit system in a big city," he said.

Some commuters said they felt the TTC's failure to communicate the extent of the problem adequately to passengers made the situation worse.

 

[mabar]

Firefighters die combating massive blaze at fuel storage facility near Kiev (VIDEO)

A massive fire and explosions of oil tanks at a storage facility near Kiev has killed several firefighters. After nearly a day of tackling the fire, the risk of explosions still remains in the area, authorities say.

Three reservoirs, one with oil, two with fuel, continue to burn in the area, according to Ukraine’s emergency services.

According to a local TV channel 1+1, cited by RIA: "There were 180 rescuers at the facility when the blast occurred. It's not known how many survived. Ambulances can hardly manage to cope with transporting those injured. Rescuers say that gas pipelines run behind the oil tanks on fire, and they can explode as well.”

"Just like you, we consider the possibility that fire from the oil depot may spread to the airfield area. The Defense Ministry and the air command 'Center' did all they could to prevent such a scenario. All special services of the airfiled and personnel are ready. This is a facility under our special attention," Ukraine's Defense Ministry said.

The disaster at the BRSM-Nafta facility some 20 km southwest of the Ukrainian capital started Monday night, with one worker fatally burned in the initial fire. Five others were hospitalized with serious burns.

The fire spread across the site and caused massive explosions on Tuesday, leading to more injuries and fatalities.

At least five people were killed and another 12 were injured as a result of the huge blaze at a fuel storage facility.

The Interior Ministry, initially, said that two people have died, but then the bodies of three more firefighters, who were unaccounted for since morning, were discovered.

“Sadly we’ve found the bodies of three deceased emergencies workers. The men died as they were fearlessly fighting the fire,” Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov wrote on Twitter.

Some 50 fire brigades were called to the site to contain the blaze, but they were forced to back off. Residents of the nearby town of Vasilkov and several nearby villages said plumes of black smoke from the fire polluted the air. According to eyewitness accounts, the sky over the area is filled with black clouds, and rain, black from the smoke, was reported in the depot’s vicinity, 112 Ukraina TV channel reported from the scene.

The scale of the disaster should prompt an evacuation from the area, Ukrainian environmentalist Vladimir Boreyko told RIA Novosti.

“The process is catastrophic. People should be evacuated at least in a radius of 5 kilometers due to soot and toxic products from the fire. It’s a serious blow to health and can cause lung problems and cancer,” he said.

“Then there will be the second phase: acid rain destroying crops in the fields and forests,” he added. ----Ukraine, EU 'may face acid rain' amid furious blaze at fuel storage depot near Kiev (VIDEO) http://rt.com/news/265948-ukraine-oil-blaze-ecology/

Zoryan Shkiryak, an aide to Interior Minister Avakov, said the cause of the blaze could be arson or a violation of safety regulations at the facility.

Also, the fire may have been started by a botched attempt to steal fuel from a storage tank, UNIAN news agency cited a police source as saying.

An investigation has been launched into the incident at the BRSM-Nafta facility, Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council chief Aleksandr Turchinov said, adding that officials will determine who gave the permit to build the fuel storage facility near the airfield.

In the meantime, the heads of the storage facility said that they don’t have information about the amount of fuel in the facility.

“The general volume of the reservoirs where the fire took place has 25,000 tons of fuel. We don’t have information what volumes we had at the moment of the blaze,” the statement from BRSM-Nafta said.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has ordered his Cabinet to form an emergency task force to put out the fire at the facility, presidential press secretary Svyatoslav Tsegolko said.

Tsegolko said the theory that the incident was caused by a terrorist attack has not confirmed by investigators.

 

[angelburst29]

Tuesday July 2, 2015 - Maryville, Tennessee - Freight train derailment

Tennessee Train Derailment: 5,000 Residents Evacuated From Maryville (Video's)
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/tennessee-train-derailment-5-000-residents-evacuated-maryville-n385576

More than 5,000 residents were evacuated after a freight train carrying a "highly flammable and toxic gas" partly derailed and caught fire overnight just outside Knoxville, Tennessee, officials said.

Ten officers were hospitalized after breathing in fumes, Blount County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Marian O'Briant told NBC News.

One car of the train derailed and was on fire, railroad officials said.

An evacuation zone is in place over a two-mile radius from the derailment, near Maryville, and could be in place for up to 48 hours, the fire department said.

Two shelters were being opened for residents including one at a local high school, according to David Kitchen, senior disaster program Manager for the Tennessee Volunteer Region of the Red Cross.

The train was carrying acrylonitrile — which authorities described as a "highly flammable and toxic gas."

The EPA says the substance is used in the manufacture of acrylic fibers and if inhaled in high levels can cause membrane irritation, headaches, nausea and kidney irritation.

It was not immediately clear if the fire was under control.

The CSX train was traveling from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Waycross, Georgia, and consisted of two locomotives, 45 loaded rail cars carrying mixed freight and 12 empty rail cars, company spokeswoman Kristin Seay told NBC News.

"Cars of acrylonitrile are located on either side of the burning rail car," she said, adding that acrylonitrile was "flammable and presents an inhalation risk."

"CSX personnel are on hand at an outreach center that has been established. Displaced residents are being offered assistance, including lodging," she said.

 

[Yozilla]

A train derailed in Pakistan causing casualties:

http://presstv.ir/Detail/2015/07/02/418515/Pakistan-train-fall-canal-Punjab-Gujranwala-army-personnel

Pakistani Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique told reporters that the incident may not have been accidental.

"There appears to be some other hand or reason. Apparently it could be due to a blast or deliberate loosening of the fishplates," he said, adding that a heavier train had crossed the same bridge an hour earlier without a problem.

"This bridge was inspected in December and January and it had no issues," he noted.

Pakistan maintains a poor railway system based on the British-era track and old coaches.

 

[mabar]

Two trains collide in South Africa, over 300 injured

More than 300 people have been injured from the collision of two trains near South Africa’s Johannesburg on Friday.

One of the trains derailed as result of the collision that took place between Booysens and Crown Mines stations, according to a local paramedic service. “It is believed that two trains collided causing one to derail,” ER24 spokesperson Russel Meiring told eNCA.

According to Nana Radebe, spokeswoman for Johannesburg Emergency Services, 326 people have been taken to nearby hospitals, AP reports. "For now we have removed people with minor to serious injuries, but none critical," she said.

There have been no fatalities confirmed yet.

Radebe told AP that the trains were on the same track and one of them was in a stationary condition during the collision.

The railway line between Johannesburg's Park station and Booysens was closed after the incident, local media reported.

 

[angelburst29]

Sunday - August 16, 2015 - Northeast, Budapest - Passenger train derailment

Trains crash near Budapest, 19 people injured
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/16/us-hungary-crash-trains-idUSKCN0QL0B120150816?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews


Two trains crashed 50km (31 miles) northeast of Budapest early on Sunday, injuring 19 people, Hungarian police said.

Two people were injured seriously, Imre Kavalecz, spokesman for state rail company MAV, was quoted as saying by national news agency MTI.

The trains were carrying 30 to 40 passengers and were traveling at a low speed of about 20km per hour when the crash happened near Galgaguta, Kavalecz said.

An investigation is under way to establish the cause of the accident, he added.

 

[Palinurus]

http://www.sott.net/article/303374-Amtrak-passenger-train-derails-in-Vermont

RT
Mon, 05 Oct 2015 16:55 UTC

A southbound Amtrak passenger train has derailed in Northfield, Vermont, Amtrak confirmed on Monday morning.

Police and emergency crews are responding to the scene.

Spokesperson Lt. Dana Huoppi of the Montpelier Fire Department said they had reports of four people being injured so far. There have been no reported deaths, according to Huoppi, as cited by NBC.

The train was the Vermonter, which runs between St. Albans, Vermont and Washington, D.C. daily. It is the only Amtrak service that runs on the track, according to NBC.

The train is popular this time of the year with tourists who go to watch foliage in the state. CNN says there were 98 people on board.

Amtrak reported that the train struck rocks on the track near the town of Roxbury around 10:30 a.m. ET.