This is 3rd one in a short time now. Pretty scary, and horrible for the environment.
http://www.timminspress.com/2015/03/07/third-train-wreck-in-three-weeks-in-the-north
(someone on facebook posted that pic)
The Timmins Times / The Daily Press
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has sent a team of investigators into the site of another CN rail train wreck, which has occurred just a few kilometres from the village of Gogama. No injuries have been reported.
The derailment occurred on a section of the CN mainline located between the village and the nearby train crossing at Highway 144, near Gogama. Witnesses say some rail cars went off the tracks, near a bridge crossing, and into a river.
Ontario Provincial Police said they were advised of the derailment at about 2:45 Saturday morning.
"The derailment occurred four kilometres southwest of Gogama, where approximately ten cars derailed," said OPP Constable Gillian Coughlin, the media liaison officer. She said police were told derailed cars were tank cars carrying crude oil.
"There were no injuries and the Gogama fire department was called to the scene. Several cars have caught fire and others entered the Mattagami River system," Coughlin told reporters at an informal scrum by the Gogama OPP detachment.
'DON'T DRINK THE WATER'
"Residents of Mattagami First Nation are being advised not to consume water from the community source at this time," said Coughlin. She added that Ontario environment ministry officials were on the scene and monitoring the wreck and checking out local water bodies.
The crash is similar to the February 14th derailment, which occurred north of Gogama when 29 cars, when a 100-tank car train went off the tracks, also spilling crude oil into the environment. There was another derailment this past week, near the community of Hornepayne, also on the CN mainline.
On this latest incident, the train itself was carrying 35 to 40 tank cars, and witnesses said several the tank cars were separated from the burning train and pulled into the Gogama yard. A large plume of heavy smoke could be seen from the highway and also from the village. Visibility changed several times during the day as snow flurries blanketed, and blocked the sky, the community several times.
The Sudbury and District Health Unit, which has jurisdiction for Gogama, put out an advisory early Saturday morning advising residents to stay indoors to avoid the possibility of smoke inhalation.
Const. Coughlin also advised that for the time being, Highway 144 is closed to through traffic. The main blockage is at the Highway 144 CN rail crossing, which has become a key point for CN rail to offload heavy equipment that needs to be brought into the wreck site, just a few hundred metres east of the highway.
CN POLICE BLOCK MEDIA
OPP were in the process of escorting half a dozen reporters and photographers to that exact area Saturday afternoon, but the OPP and the media were turned back by CN police, who refused to allow media reps to shoot any photos of the burning tank cars from that vantage point.
The firefighting effort and the eventual clean-up is being coordinated from the Gogama Community Centre, which has become a command post for all emergency responders and other officials involved in the situation.
Transportation Safety Board (TSB) investigators will again be on the scene for the next several days, just as they were for the February 14th derailment. At that time, TSB investigators found the crude oil product was being transported in the Class 111A tank cars. These are the tank cars that were improved and upgraded over the tank cars involved in the Lac-Mégantic train disaster.
In the interim report issued for the February 14th derailment, the TSB said the Class 111A cars were still not good enough to withstand derailments.
"The TSB has been calling for tougher standards for Class 111 tank cars for several years," said Jean L. Laporte, TSB's Chief Operating Officer." Here is yet another example of tank cars being breached, and we once again urge Transport Canada to expedite the introduction of enhanced protection standards to reduce the risk of product loss when these cars are involved in accidents."
Also at the scene on Saturday was a representative from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment office in Timmins. He could not comment, but said more environment ministry people were on the way to ensure that CN was taking all necessary steps to reduce the impact on the environment.
Among those on hand Saturday, meeting with local officials, were Nickel Belt MP Claude Gravelle and Nickel Belt MPP France Gelinas. Both are New Democrats.
Gelinas said she was concerned about the water advisory because that was an indication that damage has occurred to the environment already.
"We want to make sure that every effort is put into place to protect the water, protect the lake and protect the drinking water for people," she said.
"I mean it is dangerous goods making all of the black smoke right now," she added. Gelinas also remarked that she understands why local residents are worried about the proximity of the wreck to their community. She said she spoke to Gogama residents.
"What I've heard the most is, what if. What if this had been another two kilometres and it happened in the middle of the village," she said. Gelinas remarked that if the fire had occurred in the village, "Gogama would be gone."
MP Gravelle also commented about the fact there was a derailment nearby exactly three weeks ago, along with the CN derailment that occurred east of Hornepayne this week.
"We have to be concerned. This is something that happens when these companies are self-regulated. I think that's a big problem. We're going to have to look into that," said Gravelle.
Gravelle added that the local residents have reason to be concerned, and he endorsed Gelinas' comments saying the wreck certainly appears too close for comfort, for the residents of Gogama.
UPDATE Oct 31 2016
They had abandoned the site without cleaning it properly but finally agreed to properly get rid of the oil.
http://www.timminspress.com/2016/10...e+river+|+Timmins+Press#.WBgAF2Gmk2A.facebook
http://www.timminspress.com/2015/03/07/third-train-wreck-in-three-weeks-in-the-north
(someone on facebook posted that pic)
The Timmins Times / The Daily Press
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has sent a team of investigators into the site of another CN rail train wreck, which has occurred just a few kilometres from the village of Gogama. No injuries have been reported.
The derailment occurred on a section of the CN mainline located between the village and the nearby train crossing at Highway 144, near Gogama. Witnesses say some rail cars went off the tracks, near a bridge crossing, and into a river.
Ontario Provincial Police said they were advised of the derailment at about 2:45 Saturday morning.
"The derailment occurred four kilometres southwest of Gogama, where approximately ten cars derailed," said OPP Constable Gillian Coughlin, the media liaison officer. She said police were told derailed cars were tank cars carrying crude oil.
"There were no injuries and the Gogama fire department was called to the scene. Several cars have caught fire and others entered the Mattagami River system," Coughlin told reporters at an informal scrum by the Gogama OPP detachment.
'DON'T DRINK THE WATER'
"Residents of Mattagami First Nation are being advised not to consume water from the community source at this time," said Coughlin. She added that Ontario environment ministry officials were on the scene and monitoring the wreck and checking out local water bodies.
The crash is similar to the February 14th derailment, which occurred north of Gogama when 29 cars, when a 100-tank car train went off the tracks, also spilling crude oil into the environment. There was another derailment this past week, near the community of Hornepayne, also on the CN mainline.
On this latest incident, the train itself was carrying 35 to 40 tank cars, and witnesses said several the tank cars were separated from the burning train and pulled into the Gogama yard. A large plume of heavy smoke could be seen from the highway and also from the village. Visibility changed several times during the day as snow flurries blanketed, and blocked the sky, the community several times.
The Sudbury and District Health Unit, which has jurisdiction for Gogama, put out an advisory early Saturday morning advising residents to stay indoors to avoid the possibility of smoke inhalation.
Const. Coughlin also advised that for the time being, Highway 144 is closed to through traffic. The main blockage is at the Highway 144 CN rail crossing, which has become a key point for CN rail to offload heavy equipment that needs to be brought into the wreck site, just a few hundred metres east of the highway.
CN POLICE BLOCK MEDIA
OPP were in the process of escorting half a dozen reporters and photographers to that exact area Saturday afternoon, but the OPP and the media were turned back by CN police, who refused to allow media reps to shoot any photos of the burning tank cars from that vantage point.
The firefighting effort and the eventual clean-up is being coordinated from the Gogama Community Centre, which has become a command post for all emergency responders and other officials involved in the situation.
Transportation Safety Board (TSB) investigators will again be on the scene for the next several days, just as they were for the February 14th derailment. At that time, TSB investigators found the crude oil product was being transported in the Class 111A tank cars. These are the tank cars that were improved and upgraded over the tank cars involved in the Lac-Mégantic train disaster.
In the interim report issued for the February 14th derailment, the TSB said the Class 111A cars were still not good enough to withstand derailments.
"The TSB has been calling for tougher standards for Class 111 tank cars for several years," said Jean L. Laporte, TSB's Chief Operating Officer." Here is yet another example of tank cars being breached, and we once again urge Transport Canada to expedite the introduction of enhanced protection standards to reduce the risk of product loss when these cars are involved in accidents."
Also at the scene on Saturday was a representative from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment office in Timmins. He could not comment, but said more environment ministry people were on the way to ensure that CN was taking all necessary steps to reduce the impact on the environment.
Among those on hand Saturday, meeting with local officials, were Nickel Belt MP Claude Gravelle and Nickel Belt MPP France Gelinas. Both are New Democrats.
Gelinas said she was concerned about the water advisory because that was an indication that damage has occurred to the environment already.
"We want to make sure that every effort is put into place to protect the water, protect the lake and protect the drinking water for people," she said.
"I mean it is dangerous goods making all of the black smoke right now," she added. Gelinas also remarked that she understands why local residents are worried about the proximity of the wreck to their community. She said she spoke to Gogama residents.
"What I've heard the most is, what if. What if this had been another two kilometres and it happened in the middle of the village," she said. Gelinas remarked that if the fire had occurred in the village, "Gogama would be gone."
MP Gravelle also commented about the fact there was a derailment nearby exactly three weeks ago, along with the CN derailment that occurred east of Hornepayne this week.
"We have to be concerned. This is something that happens when these companies are self-regulated. I think that's a big problem. We're going to have to look into that," said Gravelle.
Gravelle added that the local residents have reason to be concerned, and he endorsed Gelinas' comments saying the wreck certainly appears too close for comfort, for the residents of Gogama.
UPDATE Oct 31 2016
They had abandoned the site without cleaning it properly but finally agreed to properly get rid of the oil.
http://www.timminspress.com/2016/10...e+river+|+Timmins+Press#.WBgAF2Gmk2A.facebook
Last edited:
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