Train Derails Over Calif. Cliff

(AP) ^

[Dallas]

COLFAX, Calif. --

A train carrying non-hazardous chemicals derailed in northeast California and was partially suspended over a steep cliff Sunday night.

One of the train's 73 cars hung over a drop known as China Wall in a rural area away from people and homes, said Placer County Sheriff's Captain Rick Armstrong. No one was injured and authorities said the rail car was not in danger of falling.

One of the six cars that derailed contained non-hazardous byproducts and two were carrying an ammonia sulfate powder that is not dangerous by itself, Armstrong said.

The Burlington Northern & Santa Fe train was heading east when it derailed at about 2:30 p.m., said Michael Furtney, a spokesman for Union Pacific, which owns the tracks.

The California Forestry Department dispatched hazardous materials crews to the site, northeast of Sacramento.

"We've got people out there on the scene trying to secure all the cars and make sure none of them are leaking," Furtney said. "Given the location, it's fairly tricky."

Passengers on Amtrak's California Zephyr, bound for Emeryville from Chicago, were taken away on buses to continue their journey, said Tom Gambrel of Amtrak.

The voicemail box for a Burlington Northern spokeswoman was full Sunday.

The cause of the derailment was under investigation.

Copyright © 2002, The Associated Press

[ladyinred]

Sure have been a lot of train mishaps lately, but I am sure they are all unrelated..............!

[monday]

"Sure have been a lot of train mishaps lately, but I am sure they are all unrelated..............!"

Actually they are all related. They are all related to Federal regulation of the Rail industry, and the consequent mis-management that this causes.

[CatoRenasci]

Who is John Galt?

[Cascadians]

So many unrelated isolated incidences involving train accidents! They are piling up like derailed box cars. You don't suppose ..... ............. ...................... ....................... ........................ ............................ ............................................ ???

[shaggy eel]

,,, off the rails BUMP.

[vikingchick]

Thanks!

[Soul Citizen]

Just another isolated incident, we know the routine. The front is on the homeland. The American public is being kept in the dark.

The continued coverups are treason.

America needs to know the truth so they can uniformily support declarative measures for WAR!

[Diddle E. Squat]

Its Spring, areas such as in the mountains sometimes face weakening roadbeds from runoff and the inability to do major trackwork over the winter. Happens every year, and derailments happen every day. But previously hardly any received attention. Also add in deferred maintenance by the railroads because of the economy. There was a washout this morning in Missouri from Spring floods. Gonna blame that, too, on terrorism?

[Hoosier Patriot]

"I'm going off the rails on a crazy train!"

This derailment obviously can be blamed on Ozzy Osbourne....

[Cascadians]

No, you're right, it's ....... the WEATHER!

[Diddle E. Squat]

Oh slap yourself and quit being a chicken little. I worked in the railroad industry, and can assure you that these accidents happen all the time, long before Osama was even born.

Here's a prediction: tomorrow the sun will rise in the east and set in the west. Guaranteed, so be prepared. And don't fall to the ground and worship me when it happens.

[Hoosier Patriot]

Yeah! And what about all the car accidents lately, and homes and businesses catching fire, and people drowning, and falling down stairs, and paper cuts, and......

[Cascadians]

Wise Diddle! Go slap your Diddle to get your mind off the news ... everybody has their coping technique, sounds like yours works for you ;^}

[Diddle E. Squat]

Whatever, ignore the facts and logical explanations if the inconveniently don't fit your paranoia.

Still dining on all that leftover Y2K spam and bottled water?

[Diddle E. Squat]

OBTW, care to explain why a terrorist would derail a train in the unpopulated middle of nowhere, when hazmat trains pass through some of the densest portions of almost every major city?

[Cascadians]

"Oh slap yourself and quit being a chicken little."

Oh wise Diddle! No pleasing you! Weather, Diddle-slapping, no adaptation of your attitude suffices!

[Orion78]

Largest Russian Rocket Hangar Collapses

[dogbyte12]

I'm going to take a shower. Keep me posted if anything new happens.