(The Associated Press distributed the following article on January 25.)
TAMAROA, Ill. — The National Transportation Safety Board says the failure of a rail caused the derailment near Tamaroa, two years ago, of a freight train carrying hazardous chemicals.
The NTSB says placement of welds on a loosely supported section of railroad track that flexed under the stress of passing trains eventually caused the rail to give way on February 9, 2003.
The northbound Canadian National-Illinois Central train was carrying methanol, vinyl chloride, hydrochloric acid and formaldehyde, each either flammable or potentially toxic.
Some chemicals spilled from ruptured train cars, causing the evacuation of about 850 people.
Canadian National has paid out hundreds of thousands of dollars to residents and businesses affected by the accident, in which no one was injured.