(The following article by Carol Ann Alaimo was posted on the Arizona Daily Star website on July 2.)
TUCSON, Ariz. — A Saturday night train derailment on Tucson’s Southeast Side ended without serious incident after initial concerns that toxic substances may have been involved.
The only spillage was a small amount of diesel fuel when four locomotives and three flat rail cars from a Union Pacific train jumped the tracks near Interstate 10 and Houghton Road, authorities said Sunday.
“Obviously it’s a concern whenever a train jumps the track, but fortunately there was no serious harm,” said Deputy Chief Patrick Quinn of the Tucson Fire Department.
Union Pacific spokesman Mark Davis said a train traveling from Los Angeles to West Memphis, Ark., jumped the tracks around 10:30 p.m. at a crossover point where trains switch from one main line track to another.
The three flat cars were carrying shipping containers full of sporting goods, furniture and other consumer products. The containers came loose when the cars jackknifed, Davis said.
One container was a refrigerated unit powered by diesel fuel that spilled and was being cleaned up, authorities said.
A Union Pacific engineer was shaken up in the accident but did not need medical attention, officials said.
Davis said railway crews worked through the night to right the upset train cars and repair about 1,000 feet of damaged track.
The incident shut down the Tucson rail corridor, a major route between Southern California and West Texas traveled by dozens of trains each day.
It was expected to reopen by late Sunday.
The cause of the mishap is under investigation, Davis said.