(The following story by Jon Krenek appeared on the Kankakee Daily-Journal website on January 19, 2009.)
GRANT PARK, Ill. — Clean up began today following Sunday’s derailment of a CSX Corp. freight train in Grant Park.
Crews worked to remove dangerous contaminants, move damaged freight cars and repair about 500 feet of track.
Grant Park Fire Chief Richard Shronts said the clean up will create some unusual odors as hazardous material crews pump material from two of the tanker cars that derailed — but nothing that poses a threat to public safety.
“They may smell some fumes, but there is no risk to the public,” said Shronts.
Twenty-one cars derailed on the Union Pacific rail line at 7:52 p.m. on Sunday. While about 50 homes were evacuated as a precaution, the spills were contained to Union Pacific property and their hazardous qualities were largely alleviated by the cold temperatures, Shronts said.
CSX Corp. spokesman Bob Sullivan said the exact cause of the derailment is still under investigation.
Union Pacific spokesman Mark Davis said crews will be working through the day to clean up the spill and repair the rail line. Illinois Route 1 was reopened through downtown Grant Park at 5:30 a.m. today after undamaged rail cars were moved.
The rail lines are anticipated to reopen for service between 10 p.m. today and 1 a.m. on Wednesday, Davis said.
Shronts said the only hitch was finding the quantity of used automobile oil leaked from a tanker was upgraded to 10,000 gallons rather than 1,000 gallons.
Shronts said the spill poses no threat of run-off to any adjacent waterways.
Davis said contaminated soil will be dug out and shipped away before the rails are replaced.
The second derailed tanker car contained about 5,000 gallons of denatured alcohol, which is flammable and can evaporate into ignitable fumes, Shronts said. About 100 gallons of the material was spilled. The material was being pumped out of the damaged rail car and removed.