BNSF trains on acid; thousands stranded

[Poppa_Zit]

BULLETIN from the Poppa_Zit newsdesk......

DOWNERS GROVE, IL --- (June 15) About 4:30 pm today, multiple bags of stearic acid powder dropped from a freight train onto the triple-track mains of BNSF's Chicago Racetrack. The powder was discovered from the Cicero railyard all the way west to Downers Grove, a distance of about 14 miles. Some bags burst upon impact, and when the white material was discovered on the tracks a HazMat emergency was declared. All train activity in both directions on the mainline was immediately halted. It took nearly an hour to identify the substance.

Exacerbating the problem was that it happened at the beginning of rush hour, and an estimated 15,000 Metra commuters were stranded. Eastbound trains were halted at the Belmont station and westbounds were held at Westmont. A westbound Amtrak train believed to be the Southwest Chief was stopped at Metra's Fairview Avenue station. Numerous freights were also stacked up in both directions.

Thousands of passengers were seen milling about the station platforms, using cellphones in an effort to find alternative transportation. A few buses were seen loading passengers to shuttle them around the area cordoned-off by police and fire officials, which centered around Downers Grove's Main Street station. However, once the substance was identified, curious onlookers were allowed onto the Downers Grove station's platforms, within feet of the offending spill.

According to reports, the worst spillage was in between the Main Street and Fairview Avenue stations, although EPA and BNSF hazardous materials teams inspected all of the track on the line. Cleanup teams were working to make the area safe.

At the time of this writing (10 pm) rail traffic had just started to move through the affected area. The Chicago Racetrack is one of the busiest mains in the nation, with over 120 trains a day. Metra was warning commuters trains may not run as scheduled tomorrow (Friday) morning because it may be short of train crews.

Stearic acid is made by treating animal fats with high pressure water and is useful as an ingredient in making candles, soaps, plastics, oil pastel, cosmetics and for softening rubber. Stearic acid is used to harden soaps, particulary those made with vegetable oil, that otherwise tend to be very soft.

Stearic acid is also useful as a parting compound when making plaster castings from a plaster piece mold or waste mold and when making the mold from a shellaced clay original. In this use, powdered stearic acid is dissolved in water and the solution brushed upon the surface to be parted after casting.

MODEL TRAIN TIE-IN: Stearic acid is often correctly identified as the cause of the famous "white crud" on wheels and plastic train cars (at least on some of my Gilbert American Flyer). It can be removed by gently warming with a hair dryer and polished-off with a microfiber cloth.

Stearic acid powder, when inhaled, is a powerful irritant to the lungs and respiratory system. Officials were afraid fast-moving trains would send the spilled powder airborne.

-- Story Copyright 2006 by Poppa_Zit

[canazar]

Wow, ain't that a kicker.

[Anonymous]

Some trains this morning(Friday) are also being affected as cleanup continues. An updated article this A.M. from the suburban paper.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story.asp?id=199789

This should be an interesting morning for train watching, but I think I'll stay upwind of the racetrack.

[Hugh Jampton]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Poppa_Zit

[b]MODEL TRAIN TIE-IN: Stearic acid is often correctly identified as the cause of the famous "white crud" on wheels and plastic train cars (at least on some of my Gilbert American Flyer). It can be removed by gently warming with a hair dryer and polished-off with a microfiber cloth.

Maybe you should forward this info to BNSF so they can clean the stuff of their wheels..

[eolafan]

Perhaps the locomotives on the train that "dropped the acid" were built in the 1960's...this seems to make sense to me...DUDE[xx(]

[TomDiehl]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Hugh Jampton

QUOTE: Originally posted by Poppa_Zit

[b]MODEL TRAIN TIE-IN: Stearic acid is often correctly identified as the cause of the famous "white crud" on wheels and plastic train cars (at least on some of my Gilbert American Flyer). It can be removed by gently warming with a hair dryer and polished-off with a microfiber cloth.

Maybe you should forward this info to BNSF so they can clean the stuff of their wheels..

But I thought the BNSF DID use metal wheels. [?]

[n012944]

Metra did not do well with situation. I know someone who was on his way home when this happend. Metra made eveyone get off the train at Belmont and just left them there. He told me there were around a thousand people at the station with confused looks on their faces. Anytime a taxi came around a hundred people ran it down. Now I know that this was an emergancy, but you would think that Metra would have some sort of plans in place for something along these lines. It reminded me of when the CA&E shut down, they brought everyone downtown in the morning, and at 12:00 noon stoppped running, leaving everyone to find there own way home.

Bert

[Chris30]

Metra was forced to run an altered Friday morning schedule on the BNSF Racetrack due to a shortage of crews (12 hr rest for a lot of crews).

Just to add to the comment about getting the powder airborne, Metra also didn't want to run trains through the area because of concerns about the powder getting into the ventilation system of each passing train.

Metra couldn't bus people around the affected area because they didn't have enough equipment on the other side (west of Downer's Grove). One drawback to the BNSF Racetrack is the lack of connections to possibly reroute the Metra trains around an emergency like this one. Yes, Metra will reroute trains for a signifigant delay during the morning or evening rush. About ten years ago UP (ex-CNW) NW Line evening rush express trains were diverted to the UP West Line, through Proviso Yard, up the New Line to Seeger (Mt Prospect area) and back onto the NW Line (Harvard Sub) to get around a gas leak near the tracks in Edison Park (?) (Chicago).

120 trains on the Racetrack? That seems a little high. It was my understanding that since the BNSF merger a lot of freight traffic had moved over to the ex-SF Chilli Sub between the Chicago area and Galesburg. Most of the remaining freight on the Racetrack is freight that goes via the C&I to Savannah, Mpls, pacific NW, etc. The Chief was moved from the SF to the BN Racetrack more-or-less making the SF the freight line & the BN Racetrack the passenger line.

CC

[Poppa_Zit]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Chris30

120 trains on the Racetrack? That seems a little high. It was my understanding that since the BNSF merger a lot of freight traffic had moved over to the ex-SF Chilli Sub between the Chicago area and Galesburg. Most of the remaining freight on the Racetrack is freight that goes via the C&I to Savannah, Mpls, pacific NW, etc. The Chief was moved from the SF to the BN Racetrack more-or-less making the SF the freight line & the BN Racetrack the passenger line.

CC

Well, depending on where you locate yourself, Metra alone runs about 48 inbounds and 48 outbounds per weekday for 96 trains. There are two Amtraks in each direction daily, which makes 100 passenger trains. So an additional 20 freights would put us at 120, and I'd say there are maybe 40-50 freights on a good day.

[Murphy Siding]

Well.....they could use a vacuum cleaner to pick up the dust.......But that kind of work usually sucks.[:P]

[Anonymous]

I will say Metra did a crappy Job handling everyone they should have provided Alternative Transportation, when I went to Photograph 5(15) At Fairview, people were mad about how Metra ***ed it up. Downers Grove brought there Shuttle Busses over to Fairview and Pace Tried to go pick up people in Hinsdale that would usually get off in Clardian Hills. All in all if we have a disaster e.g. A Nuclar Reactor Blows up etc, we are screwed. My Dad who rode one of the Trains said Metra was Abaslutley No Help. Even the Crew on one of the Amtrak Trains stuck were annoyed with the lack of info.

[Chris30]

Ok, I guess 120 a day (Mon-Fri) on the Racetrack does make sense.

Thanks,
CC

[rrandb]

Why not hyway water truckes and a 5 mph slow order? If the only hazard was dust there are solutions. I mean how acidic is the stuff?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rrandb

Why not hyway water truckes and a 5 mph slow order? If the only hazard was dust there are solutions. I mean how acidic is the stuff?

The Police were prorably trying to make there OT.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Poppa_Zit

BULLETIN from the Poppa_Zit newsdesk......


Exacerbating the problem was that it happened at the beginning of rush hour, and an estimated 15,000 Metra commuters were stranded. Eastbound trains were halted at the Belmont station and westbounds were held at Westmont. A westbound Amtrak train believed to be the Southwest Chief was stopped at Metra's Fairview Avenue station. Numerous freights were also stacked up in both directions.

That was the California Zepyhr Stopped, it left CUS 2 Hours late and the Chief was the last train thru before the line was closed.

[jeaton]

Interesting stuff. You can find stearic acid in bath soaps, but you don't want to snort it. Do advertising models shown breathing in the fragrance of soap know the danger?[;)][;)]

The powder does not disolve in water and I saw a material safety sheet that says that cleanup personnel should use respirators and a something like a light haz mat suit. Looks like complete clean up would require a BIG vacumn cleaner or a lot of alien appearing dudes with hand held cordless vacumns and brushes to sweep the dust off the ballast.

Poppa- Any information on the freight vehicle-hopper, box car, trailer or container? Ownership? did a door break open? How did the stuff get out? (My theory, it was one of those "Made in China" boxes just fell apart.)
Jay

[vsmith]

D'OH!!!!!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AMTK200

I will say Metra did a crappy Job handling everyone they should have provided Alternative Transportation, when I went to Photograph 5(15) At Fairview, people were mad about how Metra ***ed it up. Downers Grove brought there Shuttle Busses over to Fairview and Pace Tried to go pick up people in Hinsdale that would usually get off in Clardian Hills. All in all if we have a disaster e.g. A Nuclar Reactor Blows up etc, we are screwed. My Dad who rode one of the Trains said Metra was Abaslutley No Help. Even the Crew on one of the Amtrak Trains stuck were annoyed with the lack of info.

Looks like Metra did as well as your spell checker![:D]

[Poppa_Zit]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AMTK200

I will say Metra did a crappy Job handling everyone they should have provided Alternative Transportation, when I went to Photograph 5(15) At Fairview, people were mad about how Metra ***ed it up. Downers Grove brought there Shuttle Busses over to Fairview and Pace Tried to go pick up people in Hinsdale that would usually get off in Clardian Hills. All in all if we have a disaster e.g. A Nuclar Reactor Blows up etc, we are screwed. My Dad who rode one of the Trains said Metra was Abaslutley No Help. Even the Crew on one of the Amtrak Trains stuck were annoyed with the lack of info.

OK, now that you've registered your complaint, how should in your opinion this have been handled? Keep in mind you don't find enough buses to move 12,000 people with just a few minutes' notice.

Maybe Metra could have 200 buses on standby every day just for such an event -- ask your Dad if he wouldn't mind paying an extra $5 per trip so he won't be inconvenienced if something like this ever happens again.

Metra over its history has been an extremely reliable form of transportation. No one has a right to complain. This was a railroad and EPA issue, not Metra. So let someone else handle the tough stuff, and you keep working on your Spelling, Capitalization and Grammar.

And if a "nuclar reactor" blows up, don't look to Metra for help. You'll be an instant Crispy Critter. [:D]

[jeaton]

Chicago Tribune coverage quoted somebody (BNSF spokesman?) said it ws out of Tacoma for Cicero- Isn't that all intermodal now?. Bags fell out of a container. Sounds like a possible import move, probably in one of those cheap "Made in China" containers.

I agree that Metra doesn't get a hit for this one. Let see. Lost four hours getting home. OK drive the car and lose 4 hours in traffic delays, but the lost time is spread over 4 days.

[Poppa_Zit]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jeaton

Chicago Tribune coverage quoted somebody (BNSF spokesman?) said it ws out of Tacoma for Cicero- Isn't that all intermodal now?. Bags fell out of a container. Sounds like a possible import move, probably in one of those cheap "Made in China" containers.

I agree that Metra doesn't get a hit for this one. Let see. Lost four hours getting home. OK drive the car and lose 4 hours in traffic delays, but the lost time is spread over 4 days.

Being nosy, I drove past several of the stranded trains. Passengers were everywhere, on platforms, standing on sidewalks, in the street, in front of stores and on lawns. I daresay I've ever seen so many people in one place yakking on cellphones at the same time.

I've never had to use Metra to get to/from work. I have ridden it for fun, as a railfan.

The last time I needed to use public transportation (smelly bus) was when I was in college and couldn't afford a car. But my tax dollars still subsidize these people's relatively cheap rides, so as a "benefactor," let me say: "You were late getting home mebbe once in five years. Big deal. Otherwise, buy a car and drive to work so I will pay less in taxes."

INTERESTING NOTE: The Chicago broadcast media, in a burst of typical hyperbole, was calling it a "dangerous acid spill." Hardly terminology I would choose, since I saw nosy members of the public being allowed to mill about -- less than 15 feet from the spill -- by police "guarding" the scene. But I guess teasing listeners/viewers is all part of the ratings game. "Dangerous acid spill" connotes sizzling, melting tracks and ties. To the contrary, stearic acid is quite inert. Bird poop will do more damage.

[Chris30]

According to the story in the Chicago Tribune, riders were being advised to return to Chicago and then take the UP West Line. Shuttle buses were transfering passengers between UP West Line stations and BNSF stations. Metra spokesperson Judy Pardonet also said that there wasn't Metra could do given the size of the incident (@26 miles).

CC

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Poppa_Zit

QUOTE: Originally posted by Chris30

120 trains on the Racetrack? That seems a little high. It was my understanding that since the BNSF merger a lot of freight traffic had moved over to the ex-SF Chilli Sub between the Chicago area and Galesburg. Most of the remaining freight on the Racetrack is freight that goes via the C&I to Savannah, Mpls, pacific NW, etc. The Chief was moved from the SF to the BN Racetrack more-or-less making the SF the freight line & the BN Racetrack the passenger line.

CC

Well, depending on where you locate yourself, Metra alone runs about 48 inbounds and 48 outbounds per weekday for 96 trains. There are two Amtraks in each direction daily, which makes 100 passenger trains. So an additional 20 freights would put us at 120, and I'd say there are maybe 40-50 freights on a good day.

There are about 50-55 Freights per day, most Trains expect all Coal, 1-2 Intermodals and a few Manifest Trains did stay after the Merger.

[ChuckCobleigh]

I read this today and thought that we would have handled it different here in SoCal. Heck, when the word got out about white powder on the tracks, there would have been a whole bunch of folks out there with straws trying to snort it up. No clean-up needed.

Or maybe I am just a little testy about having to give three forms of ID and a DNA sample to buy a box of Sudafed now.

[fuzzybroken]

Oh, you too? Some bright minds here in Cheeseland passed a stupid law like that too. Whatever happened to "over the counter"...???

Back on topic, I first heard about this incident from my friend Jeff, who works in DeKalb. Weird...

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Chris30

According to the story in the Chicago Tribune, riders were being advised to return to Chicago and then take the UP West Line. Shuttle buses were transfering passengers between UP West Line stations and BNSF stations. Metra spokesperson Judy Pardonet also said that there wasn't Metra could do given the size of the incident (@26 miles).

CC

Honoring tickets on a parallel line is the way Metra commonly handles problems. I think the problem with this one was the timing right at the start of the Thursday afternoon/evening commute. Busing along the lines is much harder than busing between them as many of the feeder bus routes overlap between towns along the line. The parallel lines aren't really that far apart.

I also think the word Hazmat generates fear and uncertainty, both for riders and for carrier lawsuits. I checked out the Lisle station area(~30 miles out) on Friday morning and the parking lots looked more like a Saturday or Sunday. A lot of people in the area stayed home and I saw a lot of people washing cars. A heavy westbound manifest on the center track came through at restricted speed and the dust it kicked up did smell a little strange, but that could be my imagination working overtime. I moved to a different location upwind, but traffic was lighter than normal. I did see a rail-service contractor inspection truck go by on the center track, but that could be related to some rail grinding they've been doing - maybe the smell as well. I wonder if the rail grinding along with the location of the white stuff near the Peperidge Farm Bakery siding delayed identification?

The racetrack still does have a large number of freights, including coal, doublestacks, Z-trains, autoracks, and manifests. There are also NS, CSX, and UP runthroughs. Most are scheduled to avoid the morning and evening rush hours, but the reverse signaled triple track main with plenty of crossovers allows a great deal of flexibility.

[Chris30]

Long commute home on Thursday night +Metra Friday morning schedule out of whack+hazmat scare (I'll tell the boss I'm freakin out man!)+sunny 90 degree Chicago Friday=great day to call in sick to work! I wouldn't expect to see a full commuter parking lot anywhere on nice summer Friday.

CC

[Poppa_Zit]

In follow-up stories in Chicago's Sunday papers, the term "acid spill" has been replaced with "soap powder" -- or something to that effect.

Passengers are also quoted chiding Metra on "severely overreacting" to a spill of soap powder and causing to 12,000 people a minor inconvenience.

[jeaton]

I wonder what the Sunday papers would have called the product if Metra had first identified it as "soap powder".

Headlines: It's Really Stearic Acid And We're All Gonna Die"

[locomutt]

Seems like another good Headline would read:

RAILROAD COMES CLEAN AS TO WHAT MYSTERIOUS POWDER REALLY WAS