Several More CN Derailments and Spills

There have been several more Canadian National Railway derailments and spills during the past 2 weeks in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Wisconsin.

Eight CN cars derailed February 9 at the Fort Rouge rail yard in Winnipeg, Manitoba (CBC News). Six of the cars flipped over on their sides. The cars were reported to be carrying household and consumer (?) goods.

On February 7, a CN locomotive and 17 containers derailed about 5km west of Biggar, Saskatchewan, suspending operations on CN’s main line (Leader Post). The containers were reported to be carrying a variety of consumer (?) and household products.

A CN locomotive and 16 oil tanker cars carrying heavy fuel oil derailed January 24, after striking a road grader near Paynton, Saskatchewan (Canadian Press, CNW). The driver of the road grader was killed. At least 2 of the tanker cars flipped over on their sides and spilled an undisclosed amount of oil (each car can carry up to 650 barrels of oil). The extent of environmental and other damage is not known at this time.

A CN locomotive’s fuel tank was punctured January 25 when it struck a portion of track beside the main line that had been pushed up by frost in Kaukauna, Wisconsin (Post-Crescent Media). Diesel fuel leaked for about a mile within the city. Firefighters used catch basins to capture the leaking fuel, estimating that at least 1,200 gallons had spilled. Two clean up options were considered – one using a chemical that consumes fuel oil, and the other excavating beneath the railroad bed to remove any contaminated soil.

See this link for many more examples of CN derailments, spills and other accidents.

~ by railroaded on February 10, 2013.