Train Derailment 98; Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville, Kentucky | 1998-Dec-29

Initial Notification: On December 29, 1998, a southbound Burlington Northern-Santa Fe train derailed at milepost 113 on the Mississippi River. Several train cars entered the water but only one breached its contents of titanium dioxide into the environment. Three other cars containing hazardous materials with a high degree of release potential were precariously mingled in wreckage. Of these three cars, two contained sulfuric acid and the other one contained a mixture of pentane and isoprene. Each car's capacity was 10,000 gallons. At the time of the derailment, it was not clear what was in the water and several water intakes were closed until further investigation was conducted. Weather at the scene was calling for northwest winds of 15 to 20 knots, temperatures in the low 20s and a chance of snow. The following morning there was an inventory taken and assessment made to verify that there was only titanium dioxide in the water. The intakes were reopened and monitored throughout the operation. The higher concerns were to stabilize the cars of sulfuric acid, pentane, and isoprene and to remove them from the area. The railroad company quickly brought in heavy machinery to clear the wreckage. A full crew worked around the clock in laying approximately 1 mile of new track. Entry to the site was through private property where the RP negotiated a fair economic settlement with the owner for access and staging equipment. By day two, a salvage plan was submitted for those railroad cars in the water. Two crane barges were sent up from St. Louis to unravel the wreckage and place the cars in isolated locations for transportation to a railroad port in St. Louis. USCG district 2. Keyword: vacuum trucks.