Ohio freight train derails, causing fiery blast

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By KANTELE FRANKO

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Part of a freight train derailed and caught fire in Ohio's capital city early Wednesday, shooting flames skyward into the darkness and prompting the evacuation of a mile-wide area as firefighters and hazardous materials crews worked to determine what was burning and contain the blaze.

Norfolk Southern said it appeared about 11 cars of a southbound train derailed around 2 a.m. near Interstate 71, southeast of the Ohio State University campus. They went off the tracks north of downtown, in an industrial area blocks from residential neighborhoods.

It wasn't immediately clear what caused the crash, how many cars caught fire or what they contained. Authorities believe the cargo included some type of alcohol that could fuel the fire, said Battalion Chief Michael Fowler, a spokesman for the Columbus fire division.

Two people who ran toward the scene before the explosion were injured but were able to take themselves to a hospital, Fowler said.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20120711/D9VUM62G0.html

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People watch the flames shoot up from a freight train that derailed and some cars burst into flames, early Wednesday morning July 11, 2012 in Columbus Ohio. Lt. Terry Bush says the accident happened at about 2 a.m. Wednesday in a mixed-use part of the city, and people living in one-mile radius of the blast have been evacuated. (AP Photo/Andrew Spear)

[CBGLuthier]

1. Terrible thing but that is one hell of a picture.

I love the fireball-lit shadows.

[Botany]

2. One more present of "global warming"

The RxR tracks get hot and warp and then you get train derailments.

Not sure if this was the case in Columbus, OH (less then 3 miles from house)
but it very well might have been the cause.

[revolution breeze]

3. Anytime I hear about a train derailment

it takes me back to my junior year of igh school. Rural school about 100 yards from the train track. The train that derailed less than a mile from the school was carrying a chlorine. The tank ruptured and school of course was cancelled for the day due to the low hanging green cloud. BUT it was also the day of state band festival. So we drive up to the roadblock at the edge of the evacuated area and say "we're with the band" and the state trooper let all 150 members and chaperones board our bus.

[elleng]

4. "We're with the band."

Very cool!

What instrument did you play?

[revolution breeze]

5. I played piccolo that year

Clarinet the 5 years before that, viola before that.