NTSB Assesses Texas Hazmat Derailment The National Transportation Safety Board recently issued an overview of its report on the Jan. 8, 2022 BNSF derailment in Texas where more than a half million gallons of denatured ethanol was released. Here’s the report. What Happened This is a synopsis from the NTSB’s report and does not include the Board’s rationale for the […] Written by Phil Ambrose October 26, 2023October 26, 2023
Study: Mobile and Stationary Air Monitoring Needed Post Derailment When chemical-laden freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio this past February, hazmat and environmental officials set off a controlled release and burn to avoid the cars’ contents setting off a catastrophic explosion. Researchers monitored air and water quality during and following that operation. In addition to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency monitoring, other air-monitoring […] Written by Phil Ambrose August 24, 2023August 24, 2023
Hazmat Near Miss When Train Derails, Bridge Collapses Images: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency One of the more unusual hazmat calls involving rail lines this year happened in late June. While it is still not clear which happened first, a train carrying hazardous materials derailed and a bridge collapsed, plunging both into the Yellowstone River near Reed Point, Mont. Ten railcars went into the […] Written by Phil Ambrose July 13, 2023July 13, 2023
Hazmat Resources for Train Derailments If you only paid attention to the news for the past two months, you’d be forgiven if you thought train derailments were routine. In fact, in late March two more trains derailed with hazmat crews responding to both incidents in California and North Dakota. According to multiple news outlets, the Canadian Pacific train that derailed […] Written by Phil Ambrose April 20, 2023April 21, 2023
Two Derailments in 10 Days Show Need for Hazmat Rail Training Ten days after a major train derailment triggered a prolonged hazmat and fire response in Ohio, a train derailed in Texas after striking an 18-wheeler. Union Pacific dispatched its hazmat team when 21 of its cars derailed northeast of Houston Feb. 13. According to Houston Public Media, the hazmat team was on scene to monitor […] Written by Phil Ambrose February 16, 2023February 16, 2023
Prolonged Hazmat Operations at Ohio Train Derailment Hazmat crews and other emergency responders spent days dealing with a train derailment that occurred in eastern Ohio Feb. 3. Overseeing a mandatory evacuation and air and water monitoring were some of the long-running issues facing emergency officials. WOSO and other news outlets reported that 50 cars on a Norfolk Southern train derailed near East […] Written by Phil Ambrose February 10, 2023February 10, 2023
3 Lessons from Recent Train Derailments Not all derailments are serious and not all serious derailments pose the same threats Railroads are touted as the safest and most economical way to move hazardous materials, especially in large quantities over long distances. Of course, trains can and do derail. And they often carry a range of hazardous materials that don’t play nice […] Written by Phil Ambrose January 11, 2023January 13, 2023
Seven train cars derail in accident at Ogden rail yard Originally published by Standard-Examiner OGDEN — Union Pacific is investigating a train derailment that occurred Thursday afternoon at its Ogden rail yard. According to a statement sent by spokesperson Tim McMahan, the incident happened at approximately 4:11 p.m. and seven cars were derailed. He did not disclose the cause of the accident but said that […] Written by Staff Writer February 25, 2021March 1, 2021
Train cars derail in north Wichita Originally published by KAKE abc COME WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) – Officials say three train cars carrying chlorine derailed in north Wichita on Thursday, but none of the hazardous chemical has leaked. The incident happened before 9 a.m. at 25th Street North and New York Avenue, near I-135. According to the Wichita Fire Department, one of […] Written by Staff Writer January 29, 2021January 31, 2021