(The following article by Sharron Hollen was posted on the North Platte Telegraph website on September 14.)
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — More than 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel were dumped on the ground when two locomotives derailed Sunday morning in the Union Pacific Bailey Yard.
An eight-inch gash in the fuel tank of one of the locomotives caused the diesel fuel leak, according to Mark Davis, Union Pacific Railroad spokesman. Another 2,200 gallons that remained in the damaged fuel tank were removed.
About 26 cubic yards of soil were removed in the area where the fuel spilled. The dirt was taken to “an approved sight” for disposal, according to Davis.
No one was injured in the derailment that occurred in the west end of the yard about 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Mainline operations through North Platte were not affected and there was minimal track damage. Clean-up was completed by about 10 p.m. Monday.
The cause of the derailment is still under investigation, according to Davis.