Recapping Recent Derailments

Derailment intensifies concerns over oil transport through state

via Seattle Times

A train carrying nearly 100 cars of crude oil went off the track under the Magnolia Bridge in Seattle early Thursday. Nobody was hurt, no oil leaked and there was no threat to the public when five of the train’s 102 cars went off the track about 2 a.m., said BNSF Railway spokesman Gus Melonas.

But concerns about the impacts of increased oil-vessel and train traffic were stoked by the morning derailment. It came the same day as a hearing in Seattle on increased oil transport to Whatcom County. The hearing, about a dock expansion proposed by BP at its Cherry Point refinery, was preceded by a rally just across the street.

Cause of massive fire at N.D. oil supplier unknown, flights cancelled

via Christian Science Monitor
A large cloud of gray smoke hovered over Williston on Tuesday morning. The North Dakota Department of Health and other agencies are monitoring air quality near the site for any potential threat, according to agency spokesman Tim Wiedrich.

WILLISTON, N.D. — A massive fire at an oil supply company was burning itself out Tuesday afternoon, 12 hours after it began in an industrial part of the western North Dakota oil patch town of Williston.

Train Derailed in Lycoming County

via WNEP16

According to officials, 12 cars from a Norfolk Southern train went off the tracks near River Road and four of those cars were full of coal.

Authorities said River Road is closed while crews clean up the mess.

Oil train derails, spills diesel in Wisconsin

via Christian Science Monitor

A freight train carrying diesel oil struck another freight train in a small Wisconsin village late Sunday, injuring two and spilling thousands of gallons of diesel oil. The diesel oil spill also prompted the evacuation of dozens of homes.

SLINGER, WISCONSIN — A Canadian National Railway Co. train struck another freight train as it rolled through a small village in Wisconsin, causing cars to derail, injuring two people and spilling thousands of gallons of diesel oil that prompted the evacuation of dozens of homes.

No Leaks or Injuries as Non-Odorized Liquidfied Petroleum Gas Tank Cars Derail in Everett, WA

via myeverettnews

Shortly after 6:00pm Thursday night, Everett Fire was called to the 1900 block of West Marine View Drive for a report of a leak of some type. Arriving firefighters met with Burlington Northern crews who were dealing with a derailment. Firefighters determined there was no leak and quickly cleared the scene.