YUMA, Ariz. — Approximately a dozen cars of a Union Pacific intermodal train derailed Tuesday evening just north of Yuma, closing a grade crossing overnight and significantly delaying the Sunset Limited.
No injuries were reported in the incident, which occurred about 6:15 p.m., UP said in a statement to TV stations KYMA and KECY. Rural Metro Fire of Yuma County responded to the incident and found no hazardous materials were involved.
The derailment closed Fortuna Road crossing near U.S. Route 95; it reopened Wednesday morning. The incident delayed the westbound Sunset Limited that departed New Orleans on Monday, Feb. 24; as of 7:15 a.m. CT, it was projected to arrive in Los Angeles 24 hours late, according to Amtrak’s website.
Yuma is the junction point of UP’s Yuma Subdivision from Loma Linda, Calif., to the west and the Gila Subdivision to Tucson, Ariz., to the east.
This picture brings up a question. What if a 3 mile long train derails at the rear of the train? The conductor has to go back along the train to see why the air will not restore. If he should walk along the wrong side of the train and cannot see the derailment until maybe a quarter mile from the derailment. Depending on terrain it might take him 15 minutes to be able to see the derailment and if there is any Haz Mat leaking.
To escape the danger, he then shuts the air valve on a car and starts walking back. As soon as the engineer can release the brakes the conductor can cut the front of the train and ride away from the Haz Mat problem. That is a long time to be unable to get away from any danger.