CN has a major derailment on its hands in Prince George, as two trains collided in the CN yard on the north banks of the Fraser River at around 10:30 this morning. The derailment took place in the area near South Fort George.
The Globe and Mail features the story on their website, stating that one train collided with another that had derailed in the yard, rail cars are on fire and the skies have been darkened over the city.
The Opinion 250 website, is reporting that Ministry of Forests water bombers were called out to try to prevent the fire from spreading through an adjacent park in the city. Their website includes video of the fire.
The latest derailment for the railroad comes days after they were served with papers to appear in provincial court in October to face with five counts related to environmental damage. "Two are under the federal Fisheries Act and three under the B.C. Environmental Management Act.
No injuries as trains collide in fiery crash in northern B.C.
Canadian Press
August 4, 2007 at 5:38 PM EDT
PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — CN Rail is dealing with a wreck after two trains collided Saturday on the banks of the Fraser River in Prince George.
RCMP Constable Gary Godwin said it appears one train derailed and collided with a train on an opposing set of tracks.
Fuel is leaking into the Fraser River and thick black smoke from the diesel in one engine is blackening the skies of the city.
Const. Godwin said a lumber car on one of the trains is also burning.
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Three locomotives were northbound while the train with the lumber was southbound.
No one was injured in the incident.
CN spokesman Jim Feeny said the trains, one of them with three locomotives, collided in the CN yard. He could not say how many cars were involved in the wreck.
Mr. Feeny said it is not known what environmental damage may have occurred as fuel from the locomotives and a tanker car leaked onto the ground in the yard and near the river. He said crews were able to remove cars not directly involved in the blaze.
Const. Godwin said hundreds of onlookers viewed the blaze from a park on the other side of the river. That led to the park being shut due to the danger of a tanker laden with diesel exploding.
The derailment came the day after it was announced that CN Rail is facing federal and provincial charges as a result of a derailment that sent toxic chemicals into a river north of Vancouver.
Company spokeswoman Kelli Svendsen said CN was served late Thursday with five counts.
"Two are under the federal Fisheries Act and three under the B.C. Environmental Management Act.
She said the first scheduled court appearance is on Oct. 3.
The Cheakamus River's fish population was virtually wiped out by the spill of 40,000 litres of sodium hydroxide into the river, about an hour's drive north of Vancouver. It killed more than 500,000 fish from 10 different species and caused extensive environmental damage.
According to officials with the provincial Environment Ministry, CN has already been billed about $200,000 dollars for costs resulting from the initial response to the spill and the company will be on the hook for subsequent remediation and recovery costs, which may be tallied for years.
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Further links to the story:
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Opinion 250-CN Derailment Smoke Drifting Over Prince George
Opinion 250-CN Derailed Trains Operated By Management ?
Opinion 250-Water Bombers try to contain flames
Opinion 250-CN derailment in Prince George
PG Citizen-CN Rail cars derail near South Fort George
CKPG TV- CN derailment (audio)
CKPG TV- Train Derailment -Fire Dept (audio)
CKPG TV- CN Train Derailment (VIDEO)
CKPG TV- CN derailment
CKPG TV- Derailment Update (audio)
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(Photo above from the Opinion 250 website)
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