(Knight Ridder circulated the following story by Scott Marshall on December 28.)
PITTSBURG, Calif. — Seven rail cars carrying liquid propane derailed in a Pittsburg train yard Monday morning, but no leak occurred and no one was injured, officials said.
One of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe cars derailed, and the other six toppled onto a main track line while engineers were building another train on minor tracks, said railroad spokesman Joe Faust.
Speed was not a factor and foul play was not suspected. Freight and Amtrak service on the blocked tracks was expected to be restored by late Monday.
The derailment significantly delayed Amtrak’s San Joaquin route, which was rerouted onto Union Pacific freight lines, said Amtrak spokeswoman Sarah Swain.
The 8:12 a.m. accident occurred just east of East 10th Street, where the tracks cross Solari Street, said Pittsburg police Sgt. Brian Addington. The tracks run parallel to East 10th Street.
The cars derailed east of the Solari Street overpass at East 10th Street, with the last of the string actually atop the overpass.
The derailment occurred at such a slow velocity that even those near it didn’t realize what had happened.
“I didn’t even hear it,” said John Longacre, 47, who runs Napa Auto Parts store at 360 East 10th St. “We heard the sirens going up the street,” and the emergency vehicles stopped in front of his store. Apparently none of the buildings near the derailment shook, said Marc Woodyard, 49, who runs Delta Bearing and Supply Inc. on East 10th Street.
The tracks in Pittsburg are constantly busy. Trains pass by the rear of Longacre’s store about every half hour, including fast-moving Amtrak trains, Longacre said.
Although businesses remained open, authorities declared a “voluntary evacuation,” and customers had to walk to the businesses while the streets were closed.
“I haven’t been able to have any customers,” said Julie Holbert, who runs Larry’s Bar, open since the end of Prohibition and operating at 465 East 10th St. since 1953. She decided to close the bar Monday night but planned to reopen today.
East 10th Street was closed from Harbor Street to East Street and Harbor Street was closed north of East Santa Fe Avenue while officials brought in heavy equipment to right the cars, Addington said. A crane also arrived.
The railroad sent an investigative team, which is working at a command post with firefighters, hazardous materials specialists and police, including a mobile command vehicle from the San Ramon fire district. The Salvation Army arrived to provide food.