Western Railroad Discussion > UP derailment and hazmat evacuation at Littlerock, CA

Just heard on KTLA News at 1:00PM.Train derailment at Little Rock CA 22 to 70 cars off the tracks.Any more info please share.

msdgbar Wrote:
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> Just heard on KTLA News at 1:00PM.Train derailment
> at Little Rock CA 20 to 50 cars off the tracks.Any
> more info please share.


CH 9 news just showed helicopter shots then lost signal. They said 63 cars on the train about half of them on the ground.And they have their signal back.

Los Angeles County Emergency Operations Center is reporting 62 cars and a possible chlorine vapor release. Fire and Sheriff is conducting precautionary evacuations. No deaths or injuries.

Todd Clark
Canyon Country, CA
Trainorders.com

That ain't good - those are chlorine tank cars:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeSw673dWcs

This is between MP 423 and 424. Streets are East 92-96. They are having a evacuation in effect now for the chlorine tank cars.
Dennis

This is on the "Palmdale Cutoff" portion of the Mojave Sub, between Palmdale No. 2 and Wash. Detour options are Via Saugus on Metrolink to Los Angeles where trains can go Via Alhambra or LA Sub.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/27/11 15:22 by ats90mph.

Those folks in that video apparently don't have too much concern for their safety...

Bill Deaver
Tehachapi, CA

chrisbutts Wrote:
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> That ain't good - those are chlorine tank cars:
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeSw673dWcs

UN number on the placard shown in the video is for hydrogen fluoride, not chlorine. Still nasty stuff according to a quick search.

-Justin

I an hearing 62 cars on the ground and 2 peolpe killed. Crew is OK.
Dennis

The DOWX cars next to it look to be chlorine cars that go to/from the Pittsburg CA plant. Isn't hydrogen fluoride a bit nastier than chlorine?


bnsfjth Wrote:
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> chrisbutts Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > That ain't good - those are chlorine tank cars:
> >
> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeSw673dWcs
>
> UN number on the placard shown in the video is for
> hydrogen fluoride, not chlorine. Still nasty
> stuff according to a quick search.
>
> -Justin

Emergency officials in the Antelope Valley have evacuated residents after a major freight train derailment.

About half of the 62-car train derailed near Littlerock. At least 14 of the cars were carrying hazardous material. Officials are trying to determine whether either chemicals or gas leaked because of the crash.

Link: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/07/residents-evacuated-after-major-train-derailment-.html

OCV

What caused the train to go on the ground!

ProAmtrak Wrote:
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> What caused the train to go on the ground!


Really???? It just freaking happen! They need to make sure everything is safe cause of the tanks carrying the nasty stuff so who cares about what caused it right now...


-Mario

HF is used in oil refining and sometimes in oil wells to increase permeability. It etches glass and is corrosive to metals. It is as nasty as chlorine though not as gaseous.

http://www.solvaychemicals.us/static/wma/pdf/5/1/1/4/AHF_MSDS.pdf


10.2 Materials and substances to avoid:
• Water
• Metals
• Glass
• Alkalies
• Amines

KABC story. Up says there were six cars labeled as carrying hazardous chemicals but that they were empty.

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=8274600

Union Pacific spokesperson Aaron Hunt released a statement Wednesday afternoon:

"A little after 1:00 p.m. today a 68-car Union Pacific train was headed southbound from Roseville to West Colton through the Littlerock area east of Palmdale. 21 rail cars on that train derailed. The cause of the derailment is under investigation. No injuries have been reported. Six of the 21 derailed cars are tank cars that typically carry hazardous materials. No spills have been reported from the six tank cars. Currently, the Union Pacific hazmat response team is working in collaboration with LA County Fire to determine if there are any leaks from any of those six tank cars. Though the six tank cars are currently empty, a thorough damage assessment will be made of each tank car before they are re-railed. LA County Fire has ordered a 2000 foot evacuation along the segment of railroad track where the incident took place."

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/photo-galleries/2011/07/27/littlerock-train-derailment/

Just got this from Juniper Hills folks.

LASD PALMDALE: ***HAZMAT Train Derailment in Littlerock, Residents asked to evacuate as a precaution***
www.nixle.us/7SLCD

***HAZMAT Train Derailment in Littlerock, Residents asked to evacuate as a precaution***

The Los Angeles County Fire Department is advising that a freight train, approximately 70 cars in length, was traveling through the City of Littlerock when 22 cargo carrying cars derailed around 92nd Street East and "Avenue T". The only passengers aboard the train were its operators who are uninjured.

Due to the fact 14 cars being transported were identified to contain hazardous materials, the Los Angeles County Fire Department is asking residents from 87th Street East to 106th Street East between "Avenue S" and "Avenue T" to evacuate as a precaution. Residents who evacuate are asked to head toward Almondale Middle School (9330 East "Avenue U", Littlerock Ca). Currently there are 100 homes north of the derailment affected by this evacuation.

wouldn't chlorine be more hazardous due to it being vaporized and forming a moving cloud then a corrosive liquid unless it gets into the water system

Latest briefing from LACFD a hazmat team checked the entire train and there IS NOT any cars leaking at this time.. 630 pm newscast. The cars will be righted tomorrow and the LACFD will be on scene in case of any problems due to leakage etc.
there should be reroutes via the Coast or the Saugus Line...

Haz-mat????? I'll be right there... my speciality!

Take Care, Stay Safe, Have Fun!

Larry