(The following report appeared on the Wellington Daily News website on December 27.)
WELLINGTON, Kan. — A Burlington Northern Santa Fe train, carrying five loads of grain, derailed at 8:50 a.m. this morning.
The train was westbound on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railway when it derailed five cars in the 100 block of South Seneca.
The cars were carrying grain, none of which was lost in the derailment.
It was unknown at press time today why the cars jumped the track. Cleanup crews will be at the sight in the afternoon to remove the derailed compartments, until which time southbound Seneca will be blocked.
Railroad officials were on the scene at press time today and the 100 block of S. Seneca was blocked at the north and south ends while officials worked the accident.
This is the second train derailment in a week. The other, involving two Union Pacific trains at Riverdale, was caused after one train pulled too far ahead and a passing train collided with the engine.
The collision was reported at 2 a.m. in the 600 block of the North Union Pacific Railroad Tracks.
Emergency officials worked with the Union Pacific HazMat crews to clean up a 1,000 gallon diesel fuel spill as a result of the accident.
Wellington Fire Department Assistant Chief of Technical Services Bill Hellard said initial reports were of an accident involving two train engines, leading their emergency crews to believe some type of head-on collision had occurred.
However, Hellard said when crews arrived at the collision they found a less harrowing scene.
Hellard said the diesel tank under one of the locomotives was punctured in the collision.
Barnes said Union Pacific HazMat crews were working immediately after the accident to clean up a 1,000 gallon diesel fuel spill from the accident.
This was the only release of any type of chemical due to the collision, Barnes said.
Hellard said there was an empty LP gas tank and a car carrying de-naturalized alcohol, but neither were involved in the accident.
Barnes said their crews would be “making sure to coordinate with the local authorities to make sure the area is secure and taking efforts to remedy the scene as quickly as possible.”
The impact was reported three-fourths of a mile from North 650th Avenue
Blunk said the trains were both approximately 2,000 feet long.
This morning 60th and 70th avenues north were blocked by the wreckage.
Officials from the Union Pacific Railroad, their HazMat team, Butler and Sedgwick County officials, the Sumner County Sheriff’s Department and Emergency Management, along with the Wellington Fire and EMS department, responded to the scene.