More Canadian National Railway Accidents

Canadian National Railway experienced several derailments and other accidents during the past week.

On May 9, 2014, 6 CN rail cars fell off the tracks just outside Grand Falls, New Brunswick, as the train was exiting the main line onto a side track (4-Traders). Two of the derailed cars were carrying automobiles, 2 had fertilizer, 1 carried railway ties and 1 was empty. It is not known how long the tracks were closed to clean up the derailed cars.

Nine CN cars loaded with wood pulp derailed on CN’s main line in downtown Slave Lake, Alberta on May 8, 2014 (CBC News, Edmonton Journal, plus other sources). Some of the cars tipped completely over on their sides, and crushed several nearby sheds. Six nearby residences were evacuated. About 245 feet of track had to be replaced, as the main rail line and several roads were closed down for some time.

A Canadian National Railway locomotive fuel tank punctured, spilling 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel in Racine County, Wisconsin on May 4, 2014 (The Republic). Apparently, the train hit a piece of metal on the tracks which punctured the fuel tank. Crews were able to clean up only about 1,600 gallons of the spilled diesel fuel and the rest soaked into the ground. Local officials were concerned about possible contamination of very shallow nearby water wells. The local fire chief said soils contaminated with hazardous liquids are typically replaced with new soil. The extent of environmental damage was not disclosed.

Plainfield Trustee Jim Racich called local police on May 6, 2014 after he noticed a half-mile long Canadian National Railway train hauling oil or chemical tankers parked near downtown Plainfield, Illinois for hours with the locomotives running but no one inside the locomotive cabs (CBS). Racich believes the railroad practice is unsafe and hopes state and federal legislators change legislation to make it unlawful to leave running locomotives carrying hazardous goods unattended.

For information on hundreds of additional CN derailments and other accidents, see CN Railway Derailments, Other Accidents and Incidents.

~ by railroaded on May 11, 2014.