Near Disaster At Milepost CAB 146.3

 

The City of Lynchburg Va. avoided a huge disaster today (April 30, 2014) when loaded CSX crude oil train No. KO80-28 bound for Yorktown, Va. derailed approximately 16 tank cars on CSX's James River Subdivision (three of which ended up in the James River) at milepost CAB 146.3 located along the city's downtown riverfront around 2:00 pm and burst into flames. The eastbound train was running on No. 2 Main Track with two locomotives (led by BNSF 7485) and 105 cars. 

Two photos above from Amherst Co. side of the swollen James River  

Two photos above from downtown Lynchburg's new "Bluffwalk"

First (eastern most) derailed car.  Photo from new "Bluffwalk"


 CSX Crude Oil Train No. KO80-28 stretching west past Griffin Pipe

CSX Crude Oil Train No. KO80-28 stretching east towards derailment site at milepost CAB 146.3 on CSX's James River Sub. through downtown Lynchburg, Va.

 

We lucked out on this one....we really lucked out!  This could have been another Lac-Megantic, Quebec.  With this derailment, the fire was out in several hours, there were no injuries and seemingly the damage was confined to the tank cars involved and the roadbed. Lac-Megantic can not say the same. Crude oil did spill into the James River with a good amount burning off, however it is yet to be seen if there is any major environmental damage.  Time will tell....and time will also tell when and where the next crude oil train leaves the rails....the next community may not be so lucky. 

 

It's way to early to tell what caused this derailment...but the cause will be found.  Shipping crude oil by rail is needed and is not going away.....and 99.9 percent of the time it is shipped safely....it's that .1 percent that we must do something about.... we obviously must get safer....safer equipment (rolling stock) and safer roadbeds.  Railroads are a highly technical and innovative industry....and they will find a way to handle these shipments safely 100 percent of the time...I just hope it's before the next train passes through my beautiful town.

 

-Rick 

 

My thanks to Rick-2 Johnson, Garland Harper, Norris Deyerle, Skip Hansberry, Denise Mays and Momma Johnson for the heads-up and feeding me info through out the day.