Western Railroad Discussion > BNSF derailment in MN

Fox News is reporting that a BNSF ethanol train has derailed and caught fire at Raymond, Minnesota, population 764. This is roughly in the south central part of the state west of Minneapolis on the Marshall Sub. The town has been evacuated.
 
Dick Ebright
Rochester, MN
 



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 03/30/23 06:09 by 2ebright.

https://m.startribune.com/residents-evacuated-after-train-carrying-ethanol-derails-catches-fire-in-raymond-minn/600263097/

Some video here  https://nypost.com/2023/03/30/fiery-train-derailment-in-minnesota-prompts-evacuations/

Some rail safety

The line is X-GN from Willmar, MN to Soo City, Iowa.

Ed Burns

we got a flammer

NPEDDIE Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The line is X-GN from Willmar, MN to Soo City,
> Iowa.
>
> Ed Burns

Try Sioux City, Iowa.

Other news sources report ehtanol plus corn syrup and other commodities, a mixed manifest train.

At least ethanol burns cleanly, I think.

I wonder if any caramel was produced?

ts1457 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> At least ethanol burns cleanly, I think.
>
> I wonder if any caramel was produced?

No hydocarbon compound burns "cleanly" especially when its denatured with Gasoline.

furious_toad Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No hydocarbon compound burns "cleanly" especially
> when its denatured with Gasoline.

Well, compared to vinyl chloride.

My understanding is that no gasoline is in those tank cars. The ethanol is blended with the gasoline at the products terminal because gasoline with ethanol generally cannot go through pipelines



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/30/23 10:23 by ts1457.

A while back a Jim Beam warehouse full of alcohol in barrels caught fire in Kentucky. NO smoke at all.

ts1457 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> furious_toad Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > No hydocarbon compound burns "cleanly"
> especially
> > when its denatured with Gasoline.
>
> Well, compared to vinyl chloride.
>
> My understanding is that no gasoline is in those
> tank cars. The ethanol is blended with the
> gasoline at the products terminal because gasoline
> with ethanol generally cannot go through pipelines


No, the gasoline is added at the ethanol plant to make it "denatured". This is done so it can't be used to make alcoholic beverages.
The percentage of gasoline is very small, 3% IIRC. Just enough to make it non consumable by humans.

Sorry the the misspelling--GN train orders did say Soo City.

Ed Burns

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No, the gasoline is added at the ethanol plant to
> make it "denatured". This is done so it can't be
> used to make alcoholic beverages.
> The percentage of gasoline is very small, 3% IIRC.
> Just enough to make it non consumable by humans.

Thanks for the clarification. Not enough gasoline to invalidate the point which I was making.

NPEDDIE Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sorry the the misspelling--GN train orders did say
> Soo City.
>
> Ed Burns

Sioux City, Sue City, Soo City, Siouxland, Sux, Sewer City. Pick one I have heard and seen all of those used to name Sioux CIty. As a native of this town the official name is Sioux City, but I must remind myself daily that this is TO and people will argue over the price of a FREE ham sandwich.
 

Mr Hall is totally correct, when we finished the tour at Sterling many years ago the gentleman added,
"If we don't do that we're producing quality moonshine". Nuff said.

Out 

furious_toad Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> NPEDDIE Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Sorry the the misspelling--GN train orders did
> say
> > Soo City.
> >
> > Ed Burns
>
> Sioux City, Sue City, Soo City, Siouxland, Sux,
> Sewer City. Pick one I have heard and seen all of
> those used to name Sioux CIty. As a native of this
> town the official name is Sioux City, but I must
> remind myself daily that this is TO and people
> will argue over the price of a FREE ham
> sandwich.
>  

Excellent point!  Let's throw in Sault City as well.  I don't think the people in Upper Michigan would mind nor sue us.

The pileup is right at the end of a siding.  It looks like the train picked the switch.
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.0140745,-95.2448249,249m/data=!3m1!1e3

callum_out Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Mr Hall is totally correct, when we finished the
> tour at Sterling many years ago the gentleman
> added,
> "If we don't do that we're producing quality
> moonshine". Nuff said.
>
> Out 

Better then the stuff they make on "Moonshiners".