Western Railroad Discussion > CSX Derails and Burns - Princeton, Indiana

This just in from the overnight wires...........https://www.wcpo.com/news/state/state-indiana/indiana-train-derailment-fire-forces-mandatory-evacuations

As I read the story- the train was made up of 89 loaded cars of propane. If that is accurate, there is a danger of a BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion).

mpe383 Wrote:
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> As I read the story- the train was made up of 89
> loaded cars of propane. If that is accurate,
> there is a danger of a BLEVE (Boiling Liquid
> Expanding Vapor Explosion).


All you need for propane to explode is a leak and a spark. But yes, a BLEVE is also a potential problem.

I would not be surprised, though, if not all of the 89 loaded cars contained propane.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/18/18 05:14 by toledopatch.

toledopatch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> mpe383 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > As I read the story- the train was made up of
> 89
> > loaded cars of propane. If that is accurate,
> > there is a danger of a BLEVE (Boiling Liquid
> > Expanding Vapor Explosion).
>
>
> All you need for propane to explode is a leak and
> a spark. But yes, a BLEVE is also a potential
> problem.
>
> I would not be surprised, though, if not all of
> the 89 loaded cars contained propane.

A leak can just sustain a fire at the source and not explode as it will act just like the burner on a stove. Other things need to happen for it to explode.

toledopatch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> mpe383 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > As I read the story- the train was made up of
> 89
> > loaded cars of propane. If that is accurate,
> > there is a danger of a BLEVE (Boiling Liquid
> > Expanding Vapor Explosion).
>
>
> All you need for propane to explode is a leak and
> a spark. But yes, a BLEVE is also a potential
> problem.
>
> I would not be surprised, though, if not all of
> the 89 loaded cars contained propane.

There is a unit propane train that runs that way... I would believe it...

EDIT: Saw photos of the incident, definitely not the unit propane train...

Posted from Android



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/18/18 08:32 by MC6853.

Photos and more info
https://www.tristatehomepage.com/news/local-news/law-enforcement-provides-update-on-gibson-co-train-derailment/1246434855
http://www.14news.com/story/38443889/french-fries-main-cause-of-smoke-in-train-derailment
http://44news.wevv.com/train-derailment-princeton/

This is the location of the derailment;

http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=38.32874,-87.57488&z=17&t=H

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

BAB Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> toledopatch Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
[snip]
> A leak can just sustain a fire at the source and
> not explode as it will act just like the burner on
> a stove. Other things need to happen for it to
> explode.

As a retired volunteer firefighter I can tell you that to get a BLEVE you would need severe flame impingement on one of the tanks for an extended period of time. All propane cars are equipped with a relief valve. While this valve is in operation you'd get a roar from the product being release, and you could even see a jet of flame coming from the ignited gas. But ignited gas coming from a relief valve is much better than just raw gas spewing out everywhere looking for an ignition source. This way you know where your fire is and that the gas is being burned off, not creating a hazard.

This is exactly the kind of incident that the truly remarkable HazMat training course at TTCI in Pueblo is designed to prepare firefighters to address.

Gordon

KY_Railfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> BAB Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > toledopatch Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> But ignited gas coming from a
> relief valve is much better than just raw gas
> spewing out everywhere looking for an ignition
> source. This way you know where your fire is and
> that the gas is being burned off, not creating a
> hazard.

Especially because propane is denser than air, something I learned from my father who tested pipelines in a refinery. You couldn't let a vehicle get too close to a possible propane leak!