(The Associated Press circulated the following article on June 19.)
CHICAGO — The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company is still investigating what caused one of its trains to spill several bags of acid powder along the tracks west of Chicago last week.
The spill stranded thousands of Metra commuters train riders for as long as four hours Thursday evening while hazardous-materials crews cleared the area.
More delays and cancellations awaited riders Friday morning.
Metra chairman Jeffrey Ladd said part of the problem was that Burlington Northern did not have a hazmat crew readily available when it was discovered that as many as 35 bags of stearic acid had been scattered along a 27-mile stretch between Cicero and Aurora.
Stearic acid is commonly used to make soap and candles. It is stable, but can cause eye and skin irritation when airborne.