Conrail Train Derailment; Sandusky Bay, Ohio

Sandusky Bay, Ohio | 1997-Apr-21

Initial Notification: On April 21, 1997, a Conrail train was eastbound from Elkhart, Indiana to New York with 144 cars. At approximately 1130, 31 cars derailed near Danbury, Ohio adjacent to Sandusky Bay. Of the 31 derailed cars, 12 contained hazardous substances: 1 chlorine, 7 sodium hydroxide solution, and 4 sodium carbonate powder. The cars reportedly contained residual amounts, typically two to three percent of capacity. A tank car of sodium hydroxide came to rest in a retention pond connected to Sandusky Bay through a 10-foot culvert. No leaks of sodium hydroxide were observed. A hopper car of sodium carbonate also came to rest partially submerged in the pond. The hopper car was damaged and sodium carbonate powder spilled into the retention pond raising the pH in the water to as high as 12 within 100 yards of the car. The chlorine tank car was located in the middle of the pile of derailed cars and was the primary human health and safety concern. USCG district 9. Keyword: vacuum truck, endangered species, threatened species.