(The following story by Doug Higgs appeared on the Herald and News website on January 14.)
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — About 10 gallons of a hazardous chemical leaked from a railroad tanker that was one of five cars that derailed Tuesday in the Union Pacific rail yard near the Klamath Falls Amtrak station.
An extensive area near the station was cordoned off by Klamath Falls Police and Klamath County Fire District No. 1 personnel, but no evacuation of neighboring property was required, authorities said.
The cars were in a 71-car Burlington Northern Santa Fe train that was moving slowly through the rail yard about 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, according to a Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway spokesman.
The cause of the derailment remains under investigation.
Crews from the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroads assisted fire department personnel in containing the chemical, and cooperated in setting cars back on the tracks.
The chemical was stabilized styrene monomer, a substance used in the manufacture of plastics. The liquid is colorless or yellow, is flammable, and can cause irritation of the skin, eyes and respiratory tract.
Three of the derailed cars were tank cars carrying the styrene monomer, and the other two were carrying wood products.
Two of the tank cars went over on their sides; the other remained upright.
Once the leakage was stopped by hazardous materials team members with Klamath County Fire District No. 1, all of the cars were re-railed.
There were no injuries.
The train was en route from Everett, Wash., to Barstow, Calif.