Derailment in S. Jersey

[CHamilton]

Train Derails Near Philadelphia, Some Chemicals Reportedly Spilled

There's a developing story this morning from Paulsboro, N.J., south and across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, where several railroad tank cars have derailed and fallen into a creek after a bridge collapse.

It's being reported that the cars were transporting vinyl chloride, which could ignite and would be highly irritating if breathed in. There are local reports of about 18 people being treated for breathing problems.

 

[the_traveler]

I noticed a couple of those linked stories said it was a "Conrail train"! Conrail ceased to exist years ago, and is now either CSX or NS! :wacko:

 

[jis]

I noticed a couple of those linked stories said it was a "Conrail train"! Conrail ceased to exist years ago, and is now either CSX or NS! :wacko:

Not true. Conrail exists in those areas where CSX and NS operate shared assets as a distinct entity. That entity is still called Conrail.

See http://www.conrail.com/ in case you do not believe me.

 

[the_traveler]

I did not know that! Thanks for the correction.

 

[trainman74]

The current state of Conrail was the cover story in the October 2012 issue of Trains. Headline was "Conrail: The Railroad with Two Masters."

 

[jis]

I did not know that! Thanks for the correction.

You're welcome. you see, I live in Conrail territory. Most freight lines, specially branch ones here are Conrail. For example everything that you see paralleling the RiverLINE in South jersey, as well as the tracks across the Delair Bridge are Conrail. There are several other short lines around and there is SusieQ too, but Conrail is a major player here.

 

[Blackwolf]

Sounds to me like Conrail (and its parent corporations) will be doing some capital improvements here real soon. That bridge needs to go (looks like it was built in 1873??!) and be completely replaced with something that actually works like a bridge. Considering that a few minute's research shows that line to be a very important one, servicing several very large chemical plants, refineries and a co-generation electrical station, that one bridge being out is going to cause a lot of heartache.

Not to mention the environmental impacts 100,000 lbs of Vinyl Chloride into the waterway causes.

I smell a soon-to-be-settled-out-of-court-for-an-undisclosed-sum lawsuit.

 

[George Harris]

Why bring up the date everytime there is some sort of structural failure? Remember, these structures were built for much lighter loads. One built last week for the design loads used in 1873, or even 1900 for that matter would not support today's cars. Rather, these 19th century designers and builders should be applauded for their structures lasting this long.

By the way, there are stone bridges and box culverts going back to the 1850's adn even earlier that are still carrying trains and will be for the foreseeable future.

 

[the_traveler]

I agree with George!

On the NEC (in CT alone), there are/were 4 bridges over 100 years old, and they carry many Regionals and Acelas every day! Some have been rebuilt or replaced, but others (including the bridge just east of Old Saybrook over the Connecticut River) has not and is still in use every day.

 

[jis]

I agree with George!

On the NEC (in CT alone), there are/were 4 bridges over 100 years old, and they carry many Regionals and Acelas every day! Some have been rebuilt or replaced, but others (including the bridge just east of Old Saybrook over the Connecticut River) has not and is still in use every day.

Canton Viaduct in Massachusetts is the poster child of this. Built in 1835 making it 177 years old this year. it carries Acelas at high speed today under modern 25kV 60Hz electrification. An amazing feat of engineering back when it was built. You don't even notice it unless you are looking for it as you zoom past over it.

 

[Acela150]

For the record this bridge has seen a derailment before. In 2009. As of now totals are around 70 people being hospitalized due to the fumes. But this could have been a lot worse. In the Emergency Response Guidebook (Google it) It's listed that these tank cars could have ruptured and started a large fire. So were lucky that didn't happen. The fumes started to rise and then they made their way to ground level.

 

[amtrakwolverine]

So the question is did they replace the whole bridge when it collapsed in 2009 or just the damaged parts and they weren't repaired correctly? Another news station says a couple weeks before the collapse there were complaints about noises coming from the bridge.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Is Conrail just a terminal and switching agent for CSX and NS or do they actually have their own tracks, trains, and employees?