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turbinetree

(24,631 posts)
Wed Jul 29, 2020, 06:22 PM Jul 2020

Train carrying hazardous materials derails, catches fire on bridge over Arizona lake

Source: USA Today

PHOENIX – A freight train derailed as it crossed an Arizona lake Wednesday morning, causing a massive fire and partial collapse of a more than 100-year-old rail bridge.

More than 90 firefighters were on the scene at Tempe Town Lake as thick smoke billowed into the air, and planes from nearby Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport were diverted. The incident has not impacted operations at Sky Harbor, said Gregory Roybal, an airport spokesperson.

Tim McMahan, a Union Pacific Railroad spokesman, said a freight train derailed around 6:15 a.m. local time on the bridge with eight to 10 cars on fire. The bridge's south side collapsed, and the cars fell into an empty park below.

The train crew was uninjured, he said, and one person was treated for smoke inhalation.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/07/29/train-derails-over-tempe-town-lake-arizona-bridge-partly-collapses/5535429002/



-snip-

And then there is the over view................

https://www.up.com/aboutup/corporate_info/uprrover/index.htm
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Train carrying hazardous materials derails, catches fire on bridge over Arizona lake (Original Post) turbinetree Jul 2020 OP
Freaking Hell! progressive nobody Jul 2020 #1
I know it sounds a bit CT but these days you have to wonder just why this train at that location. Ford_Prefect Jul 2020 #2
Now, about those bipartisan infrastructure bills... klook Jul 2020 #3
Pictures at this link......... riversedge Jul 2020 #4
Tempe Town Lake LogicFirst Jul 2020 #5
It's purdy. Igel Jul 2020 #6
not really Kali Jul 2020 #9
Does that lake provide drinking water to the area? n/t dixiegrrrrl Jul 2020 #8
no, it is just recreational (it is pretty shallow) with some flood control attributes Kali Jul 2020 #11
ty for the info, Kali dixiegrrrrl Jul 2020 #13
good catch! Kali Jul 2020 #14
virtually ALL of our lakes are man made Kali Jul 2020 #10
The Waste Was Cyclohexanone ProfessorGAC Jul 2020 #7
lumber was part of cargo Kali Jul 2020 #12

Ford_Prefect

(7,817 posts)
2. I know it sounds a bit CT but these days you have to wonder just why this train at that location.
Wed Jul 29, 2020, 06:42 PM
Jul 2020

Given the agendas and proclivities of the looney RW wannabe warriors, that is.

Tempe Mayor Corey Woods asked people to stay away from the area.

Woods said it was unclear how or why the incident happened, as well as whether the age of the bridge played a part in its partial collapse.

riversedge

(69,706 posts)
4. Pictures at this link.........
Wed Jul 29, 2020, 07:05 PM
Jul 2020



https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/07/29/train-derails-over-tempe-town-lake-arizona-bridge-partly-collapses/5535429002/


Smoke fills the sky at the scene of a train derailment in Tempe, Ariz., on Wednesday, July 29, 2020. Officials say a freight train traveling on a bridge that spans a lake in the Phoenix suburb derailed and set the bridge ablaze and partially collapsing the structure. There were no immediate reports of any leaks.
Daniel Coronado/AP

LogicFirst

(571 posts)
5. Tempe Town Lake
Wed Jul 29, 2020, 07:18 PM
Jul 2020

It's a man-made recreational area: not one our major lakes. Constructed in 1997, the Tempe Town Lake is a small man-made reservoir that transforms a section of the typically-dry Salt River bed into a 224-acre lake in the heart of Tempe, Arizona.

Igel

(35,191 posts)
6. It's purdy.
Wed Jul 29, 2020, 08:18 PM
Jul 2020

I remember seeing Tempe before it was there. Much nicer. Greener. Less deserty.

At the same time, it's a little bit of the Colorado River, taken into the desert to evaporate as part of an economic development area.

Kali

(54,990 posts)
9. not really
Wed Jul 29, 2020, 09:29 PM
Jul 2020

water is from the Salt river system

and it isn't much greener there than when I grew up, just has a lake and a lot more buildings. it IS a desert after all - it SHOULD be deserty

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
13. ty for the info, Kali
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 01:21 PM
Jul 2020


and a quick change of subject.

That gif of trump drinking water was several years ago. I just now really noticed he had the same "left hand helping right hand to drink" issue, and moreover how he used his left hand...outside fingers....
Very weird and un-natural movement.

Very interesting now that he is showing more physical issues.

Kali

(54,990 posts)
14. good catch!
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 02:28 PM
Jul 2020

part of the left hand awkwardness was he was holding the cap, but still - the need to assist his right hand...

ProfessorGAC

(64,413 posts)
7. The Waste Was Cyclohexanone
Wed Jul 29, 2020, 08:36 PM
Jul 2020

But, dirty cyclohexanone.
It has a high flash point, so if it rains, the fire could burn out.
Problem is, it's immiscible in water and has a density slightly under water.
So, it floats. Could run off into fresh water. Probably better if it burns.
It's not super toxic (LD50 is 6,200 ppm w/w in air) but if it's waste, it means it was already used, probably degreasing in metal working, or perhaps drilling rig parts.
So, the "greases" it was used to remove might be worse than the solvent itself.
I also wonder what the ignition source was, given a flash point of over 110F.
Or, if it was put into the railcar hot, which would be foolish with a solvent.
Something is up with this scenario.

Kali

(54,990 posts)
12. lumber was part of cargo
Wed Jul 29, 2020, 09:57 PM
Jul 2020

train derailed so that might have set something burning.

I am very familiar with about 10 miles of RR that runs through rangeland in se AZ, I have seen lots of brush fires from wheel sparks

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