(The following report appeared on the Denver Post website on March 30.)
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. — The derailment that spilled tons of coal along the Colorado River in Glenwood Canyon last month was caused by tracks that somehow spread apart, rail officials say.
“The rail literally spread apart wider than the wheels,” Union Pacific spokesman Mark Davis said last week. “The spikes come loose and when a train comes over, the vibrations can cause them to come out.”
In all, two locomotives and 39 cars on the 105-car train came off the tracks Feb. 15. No one was injured.
The train was coming from a coal mine near Delta and headed to East St. Louis, Ill. It was unknown how much coal was spilled.
Railroad officials have said they don’t think any coal reached the river. Union Pacific spent $1.6 million on damages and cleanup, Davis said.