Thanks for your concern on this important issue. There was another train derailment in the Upper Sac Canyon on Monday. Below is a report from CalTrout North East Conservation Manager, Curtis Knight.
Train Derailment Report:
On the afternoon of January 10, 2005, four Union Pacific railcars derailed near Sims Rd in the Upper Sacramento River Canyon. There are reports of diesel fuel being spilled along the tracks with some fuel making it into the river. We have heard reports that as much as 700 gallons of diesel fuel spilled with an estimated 35 gallons making to the river. Anglers on site the following day reported a strong smell of diesel fuel from the area.
The news of this accident was late coming to many in the local area. I heard about it on Wednesday from the River Exchange who didn’t hear about it until Tuesday evening. Apparently, KRCR television out of Redding tried to access the site and was denied. They again tried to access the site with CHP and, incredibly, both were denied access to the site. The issue here is the willingness of Union Pacific to make public the details of a derailment to the public in a timely manner.
Our first concern is the impact this derailment has on the river and public safety. It appears that the damage to the river from the diesel spill was minimal, so we dodged another bullet.
The second concern is the issue of ongoing derailments. California Trout and partners are currently involved in a campaign to improve rail safety by amending federal law to give states the authority to provide oversight along dangerous sections of track. The continued derailments along the Upper Sacramento River canyon provide an unfortunately ideal example of a dangerous section of track, along with other areas that are experiencing high rates of derailments such as east Los Angeles county and San Antonio, Texas. Our coalition is currently planning our next move following this latest accident.
See below for an article in the Mt. Shasta Herald on the train derailment. There was also brief mention of the derailment in the Sacramento Bee and Redding Record Searchlight.
Curtis Knight
News
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Two UP trains derail during past week
By Earl Bolender
Updated: Wednesday, January 12, 2005 9:42 AM PST
Two derailments of Union Pacific trains occurred within the past week.
On Monday afternoon, the last four cars of a southbound train headed to Roseville derailed near Sims Road about 11 miles south of Dunsmuir.
"Three were refrigerator cars carrying potatoes and frozen vegetables," UP spokesperson John Bromley said. "The other car was carrying news print."
None of the materials nor any of the cars made their way into the Sacramento River, Bromley said.
However, about 30 gallons of diesel used in the refrigerated cars spilled, some of it making its way into the Sacramento River.
"Booms were quickly deployed to contain the fuel," Bromley said.
No one was injured and the cause of the derailment is currently under investigation.
The tracks were reopened at 8:40 a.m. Tuesday, Bromley reported.
An earlier derailment of a UP car was also reported in Dunsmuir on Thursday at 8:37 p.m.
The derailment, which Siskiyou County Sheriff's spokesperson Susan Gravencamp reported as being minor, occurred near the intersection of Sacramento and River Avenues.
"The derailed train resulted in the blockage of Butterfly Avenue," Gravencamp said. "But, Union Pacific officials were able to unhook the cars at the intersection of Sacramento Avenue and Butterfly Avenue to clear the way. There were no injuries reported."
Bromley said workers were able to put the car back on the tracks shortly after the derailment occurred.
Curtis Knight
CALIFORNIA TROUT
PO Box 650
(619 S. Mt. Shasta Blvd.)
Mt. Shasta, CA 96067
PH 530.926.3755
FX 530.926.2118
Cell 530.859.1872
www.caltrout.org
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