CSX update on W.Va. derailment: 25 cars derailed, 20 in fires
17 February 2015
In an update released today, CSX said that approximately 25 tank cars derailed yesterday in West Virgina (earlier post): 20 were involved in subsequent fires.
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| The derailment site. Photo, office of Gov. Tomblin. Click to enlarge. |
CSX said that the fires around the rail cars will be allowed to burn out. When safe to do so, CSX and its experts will begin transferring oil from the damaged cars to other tanks and those tanks subsequently removed from the site.
Initial assessments confirmed that several of the cars appear to be ruptured or leaking from valves.
CSX said that no rail cars entered the Kanawha River in this incident.
Approximately 100-125 residents of homes near the derailment site remain evacuated at this time. CSX is working with the Red Cross and other relief organizations to address residents’ needs, taking into account winter storm conditions.
The train consisted of two locomotives and 109 rail cars (107 tank cars and two buffer cars). It was traveling from North Dakota to Yorktown, Va. All of the oil cars were the CPC-1232 models.
One person was treated for possible respiratory problems and released, but no other injuries were reported. The cause of the derailment is under investigation.
I suspect a pipeline would be better than railing crude oil. Post fossil fuel it could be used for transporting crude oil made from energy forestry. http://kevincudby.com/fstm/
Posted by: Kevin Cudby | 17 February 2015 at 04:46 PM
Just another reason to move off hydrocarbons and to renewable power and electric transportation asap. The oil infrastructure of ships, trains and pipelines is dangerous; spills and explosions are becoming more common as the devices age. Explosions along power grids are rare and really rare when the power is generated locally using the Sun. There are no polluting spills from electricity.
Posted by: Lad | 17 February 2015 at 11:07 PM
Yes Lad, oil spills are increasing at a much higher rate than fossil fuel consumption. Lack of appropriate maintenance, the ever increasing profit margins and plain human negligence are the main reasons.
Governments will have to find ways to properly apply existing regulations and write new ones if required.
Posted by: HarveyD | 18 February 2015 at 06:48 AM