(The following story by Jack Keating and Joe Couture appeared on The Province website on July 3.)
VANCOUVER, B.C. — Canadian Pacific Railway was trying last night to recover four tanker cars of toxic ethylene glycol after a train derailed about 10 kilometres north of Lytton.
Two of the tanker cars plunged into the Thompson River, one remained on the river embankment and the fourth was knocked off the tracks but remained upright.
“All of them were carrying glycol,” CP spokesman Mike LoVecchio said yesterday.
“The two cars in the river have been visually inspected by a certified safety diver. No leaks have been detected from either car. They are intact and have not moved.
“Monitoring is now in place downstream of the river site, so that we can ensure that if there is an accidental release that we’re aware of it.”
The train was derailed by a rock slide and mudslide at about 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Ethylene glycol is used in the manufacture of antifreeze and windshield-wiper fluid.
As a regulated commodity, glycol requires special handling and all the cars are double-lined with a second, protective-hull layer, LoVecchio said.
CP environmental experts attended a community meeting in Lytton last night “to talk about what steps are possible at this point,” LoVecchio said.
“We’ve been in constant contact with both the mayor of Lytton and village officials and the Lytton First Nation, who are both immediately downstream of the incident site.”
Lytton natives are monitoring the river to ensure there is no damage to salmon.
LoVecchio said the upright car adjacent to the tracks has been inspected and no leaks were detected. It was put back on the rails and removed.
“The car on the river embankment has been stabilized, and crews will drain the car of the glycol inside, moving it into portable storage containers.”
When asked how long that would take, LoVecchio said: “It will take as long as it takes to do it safely.”
The line will be reopened “when it’s safe to do so,” he said.
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RECENT DERAILMENTS IN B.C.
– Jan. 29: Three grain cars derail in Burnaby.
– Sept. 17, 2007: 29 grain-laden CN cars go off the tracks east of Terrace.
– Aug. 21, 2007: 10 CN cars derail near Quesnel.
– Aug. 4, 2007: Two CN trains collide in Prince George, derailing a locomotive and three cars.
– Jan. 4, 2007: A rock slide sends two CN locomotives and a car off the tracks near Lytton.
– Dec. 4, 2006: Two CN locomotives and 17 cars carrying forest products derail near Bear Lake.
– Sept. 18, 2006: 14 empty CN cars derail south of Prince George
– Aug. 4, 2006: Nine CN grain cars jump the tracks near Lytton.
– July 31, 2006: 12 CP coal cars plunge into the Thompson River at Lytton.
– June 29, 2006: Two CN conductors die when a locomotive and one car derail north of Lillooet.