Colorado Springs derailment April 14, 2015 in Tales of the Jointed Track

Okay… I have been called on this, by people who knew I worked this route. My wife said, her co-workers wanted to know what I knew about this. Sorry folks, my access now is very limited.. but I WILL forward some photos from the Colorado Springs Gazette. I take no credit and give them full accreditation for the photos and material.

This is a sweeping curve from MP 75.8 thru MP 76.2. What caused it. I don’t know. Factors..rail gauge, broken rail while traversing, broken wheel failure. The Railroad’s evolved BNSF/UP will know the basic cause. The crew was tested, I can guarantee that for drugs and Alcohol. They laid over 10 cars. I was Ammonium Chloride, yer basic Yard fertilizer. The train was northbound per the Colorado Springs Gazette.

Colorado Springs Gazette:
Crews on Wednesday continued to clean up ammonium sulfate that spilled after a Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway train derailed Sunday night just south of downtown Colorado Springs.

Ammonium sulfate is an innocuous material commonly used in fertilizer.

Crews have been busy removing material that was left in the cars that tipped, said BNSF spokesman Joe Sloan.

The cleanup is being conducted by railroad contractor Hulcher Services Inc., which, according to its website, has offices in several states and contracts with railroad companies for a variety of services including maintenance and environmental cleanup.

Sloan said crews are working to evaluate the cars that fell over to determine if they can be used again or if they must be scrapped.

Sloan did not estimate when the train cars and the remaining chemicals would be removed from the area.

The accident happened about 10:35 p.m. Sunday near the Martin Drake Power Plant in downtown Colorado Springs.

The train, headed for Denver, derailed and the chemical spilled out in 3-foot piles.

Initially, 38 firefighters responded in case the ammonia were to catch fire, said Colorado Springs Fire Department Capt. Steve Oswald.

Emergency notifications were sent to residents in the nearby Mill Street neighborhood.

Residents were encouraged to stay inside.

That request was lifted early Monday when it was determined that the chemical spill did not pose a danger to residents.
This from the Colorado Springs gazette All rights are theirs and no credit taken.

PHOTOS Courtesy COLORADO SPRINGS GAZETTE :