LITTLETON - A freight train hauling dozens of cars of molten sulfur derailed late Friday, spilling some of its cargo onto the ground and sending an eggy smell into the air, authorities said. There were no reports of any injuries or evacuations. The three-locomotive, 68-car train derailed around 11:37 p.m. Friday, Littleton Police Lt. Mike Broadhead said. The cause of the derailment was not immediately determined. "This is not a hazardous materials spill, again, it's just a molten form of sulfur, so it does have quite an odor to it, but it's not hazardous," said Broadhead. "You can get thermal burns from it if you come into direct contact with the liquid itself, so the fire department has some concerns about their personnel and how safely they can approach this, but as for the people in the community, the vapor cloud, if there is a cloud around, it's not harmful to them," Broadhead added. Officials say the northbound train, operated by Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), derailed just east of downtown Littleton on a Northern Pacific line, on which BNSF leases rail time. At least 17 cars came off the tracks and several lay on their side in an accordion-like jumble, BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas said. He says the train originated in Bonneville, Wyo. Melonas says three cars leaked an estimated 100 total gallons of molten sulfur, which is stored at 220 degrees Fahrenheit. Melonas says it is not an environmental threat. Several small fires broke out in the liquid element, but these were quickly extinguished. The rotten-egg odor of sulfur could be smelled in places up to a quarter of a mile away, though a temperature inversion was keeping much of the smell in the vicinity of the derailment, Broadhead said. Two light rail tracks are in the area and one of them was affected by the derailment and the other was being inspected. Authorities say the derailed train punched a hole in a retaining wall and also caused damage to the northbound tracks, forcing a shutdown of all light rail service between the Mineral station and the Englewood station, for an estimated seven to 10 days. RTD spokesman Scott Reed says they will be running buses in both directions from the Mineral station to stations in Englewood, stopping at all light rail stations. Passengers will be able to use the buses instead of the light rail trains. Melonas says they plan to have fresh crews in to work through the night on Saturday and they hope to have all the BNSF cars re-railed or removed, and the track repaired, by noon on Sunday. He says the front of the train was unhitched and sent on to its original destination, Galveston, Texas. The cars from the back of the train were unhitched and sent back to Denver. On Dec. 11, 2007, 24 Union Pacific cars full of coal tipped near the intersection of Santa Fe and Bowles, amid snowy conditions. A total of 25 cars derailed in the incident and a light rail train hit the debris, causing it to derail as well. That derailment occurred about a half-mile south of Friday's derailment.
Huge Molten Sulfur Derailment in Littleton The U-IRCPUE, a Motlten Sulfur train from Iron City to Pueblo Colorado. It derailed at 35-40mph. Mid train just south of Englewood COlorado in Littleton. many cars came off the tracks. However 5 cars spilled their complete load all over the triple Main and RTD passenger tram rails aswell... Hazmat was on the scene shortly after and began Cleaning up the Mess. The complete Joint Line is said to be closed until Tuesday.
Wow, there are a few things wrong with this reporting. East of down town Littleton? North bound from Wyoming in Littleton, Colorado? Northern Pacific line? Last time I visited, the joint line ran west of town.
My brother lives in Highland Ranch and takes the RTD to work in down town Denver. He was planning to get going early to take the bus today from the Liddleton/Mineral station where he normally catches the train. He said the derailment was right next to the next station up the line from there. You can see the platforms in the upper left on the top photo you added.
I take it traffic will be backed up from Cheyenne to Denver? or will the BNSF hold all trains in Cheytown or Denver.
Joint Line reopened 2 of the Main tracks seen in the derailment are bck open. The 3rd. will remain closed untill the retaining wall is fixed and the RTD is back under its regular service.
