Fire still burning after freight train derails on Arizona-New Mexico state line

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CBS News/AP

April 27, 2024 / 11:20 AM EDT


A freight train carrying fuel derailed and caught fire Friday near the Arizona-New Mexico state line, forcing the closure of an interstate highway that serves as a key trucking route.

As of Saturday morning, the fire was still burning, a public information officer for the New Mexico State Police told CBS News. About 35 of the cars carrying "mixed freight" had derailed, officials said Saturday. Six of those cars contained propane. Initial passersby posted videos and photos on social media of crumpled train cars and billowing black smoke.

No injuries were reported in the midday train wreck near Lupton, Arizona. BNSF Railway spokesperson Lena Kent said company personnel were on site working to clear the wreckage. Kent said the cause of the derailment is under investigation.

Interstate 40 was closed by authorities in both directions in the area in the early afternoon, directing trucks and motorists off the freeway to alternate routes, New Mexico State Police and the Arizona Department of Public Safety announced.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/freight-train-derailment-fire-interstate-40-arizona-new-mexico-line/

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. Sounds like the old Santa Fe.

Last edited Sun Apr 28, 2024, 05:51 AM - Edit history (4)

I can find info yet on the eastbound “Southwest Chief” that left Los Angeles Friday afternoon. I’m on a phone.

Edit: it never left Los Angeles. It was cancelled.

http://dixielandsoftware.net/cgi-bin/gettrain.pl?seltrain=4&selyear=2024&selmonth=04&selday=26

Additional editing: the westbound “Southwest Chief” that left Chicago on Friday afternoon made it as far as Albuquerque before it too was cancelled.

http://dixielandsoftware.net/cgi-bin/gettrain.pl?seltrain=3&selyear=2024&selmonth=04&selday=26

_
_
_ **** D E L A Y S ****
_
_ Service Adjustment: As of 4:04 PM CT Due to a freight train
_ derailment Train 3 is canceled between Albuquerque (ABQ)
_ and Los Angeles (LAX). We advise customers traveling past
_ ABQ not to board the train.

That train turned around and became the eastbound train to Chicago.

_
_
_ **** D E L A Y S ****
_
_ As of 12:04 PM MT Train 4 is currently delayed departing
_ Albuquerque (ABQ) due to a crew delay. A delay of at least
_ 30 minutes is estimated. Updates to follow as more information
_ becomes available.
_
_ UPDATE: As of 12:39 PM MT Train 4 departed Albuquerque (ABQ)
_ and is currently operating approximately 40 minutes late.

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

2. I wonder how far they were detoured out of the way.

In looking at a Google map, there are very few roads in the area. This stretch of I-40 between Grants, NM and Flagstaff,AZ is almost 250 miles and the only towns of significant size are Gallup, NM and Winslow, AZ.

One good thing is the remoteness of the area helped prevent deaths or injuries.

I have traveled on this part of I-40 (both directions) a few times over the years and it is beautiful to behold. And at night, there is very little artificial light since it is remote so the sky is magnificent when it is clear.

[Igel]

4. It is beautiful.

Been years since I traveled that part of I-40. I wonder if the brightly illuminated power generation plant there, between Winslow and Gallup (IIRC) is still there.

"Desolate" is a good adjective.

Strictly speaking, it even applies to the part of Gallup I've seen.

[Kali]

5. there are other routes

I was just up there a couple of weeks ago. I-40 is in real bad shape in some places. detours might be easier on tires and suspensions.

[bluestarone]

3. I could be wrong, BUT

Sure looks like North Dakota OIL tankers. It says propane cars, BUT The BLACK smoke is a sure sign of OIL tankers. Just saying.