(Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, December 4, 2012)
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — The freight train derailment last week in Paulsboro likely was the result of human mistakes (overriding a red stop signal), money-saving automation (replacing a human bridge operator with an electronic system), and overloaded old infrastructure (a bridge with parts dating to 1873), rail experts say.
The bridge failure and derailment Friday dumped four tank cars into the Mantua Creek, one of which ruptured, spewing hazardous vinyl chloride gas into the air. Seventy people went to hospitals, and more than 100 residents are expected to remain out of their homes this week while crews try to remove the dangerous chemical.
Full story: Philadelphia Inquirer