Sunday morning rail news in brief:
Explosions, fire follow derailment of UP train in Rock Springs, Wyo.
A Union Pacific derailment led to explosions and a wildfire near Rock Springs, Wyo., on Saturday, as the 26 cars that derailed included multiple cars of liquefied petroleum gas and alcohol, according to a report from the Sweetwater County Fire District. SweetwaterNow.com reports the fire near Interstate 80, involving seven to eight railcars, ignited a 20-acre blaze. Wyo4News.com reported that firefighting units from the Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport fire department, Rock Springs Fire Department, and Bureau of Land Management all responded to the incident, along with a regional hazmat team. KSL-TV reported that a few deputies that responded to the scene suffered minor burns but no other injuries were reported. Some cars were still burning Saturday night.
Residents evacuated because of hazardous materials after BNSF derailment
About 50 nearby residents were forced to evacuate for a few hours after a BNSF Railway train derailed near Wynnewood, Okla., early Saturday, as two of the 11 derailed cars were reported to be leaking sodium hydrosulfide, according to a KWTV news report. KFOR-TV reported the derailment occurred at 1:55 a.m., and that residents were allowed to return home about 8 a.m. Sodlium hydrosulfide, used in making paper, dyes, and other chemicals, can cause skin burns and eye damage, or produce a toxic gas if mixed with an acid or exposed to fire.
Juveniles to face arson charges in fire that destroyed former Southern shop
Police in Ludlow, Ky., will charge two juveniles with arson in connection with a fire that destroyed the former Southern Railway shops in Ludlow on Wednesday, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. The two will also be charged in the fire that burned down a vacation house in the city’s business district. Both have admitted to causing the fires, according to Ludlow Police Chief Scott Smith. The fire was reported at the shop building shortly after 6:30 p.m. and the building, which was owned by Norfolk Southern but not in use, was fully involved when firefighters arrived. Crews from five neighboring communites helped fight the blaze. The shop building dated to 1949 and was one of the last former Southern Railway buildings remaining in the community.
