Canada - 47 killed as train explodes, Lac-Megantic, QC, 6 July 2013

[mysteriew]

Blame game over Lac-Megantic blast as train company and fire crews point finger at each other

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/0...as-rail-company-and-fire-crews-dispute-cause/

The way I look at it is like this. The fire department did what they were supposed to do. They put out the fire. They called the property owner. They made sure there were no spills or other hazards at that site.

But the property owner is responsible for their property. They apparently knew that as they sent a representative to the site to secure the property after the fire.

Who was the last on the site? Doesn't really matter. What the fire department did or didn't do when putting out the fire really doesn't matter. Because there was a company rep there to secure the site afterwards. That company rep would have been the one responsible to make sure the property was either operable and safe or needing to be towed away.

Some reports indicate that the rep was someone who was a track specialist not a person who worked with engines. That is not the fire departments fault.

The company is squirming IMO. Those law suits are going to be huge.

 

[matou]

The way I look at it is like this. The fire department did what they were supposed to do. They put out the fire. They called the property owner. They made sure there were no spills or other hazards at that site.

But the property owner is responsible for their property. They apparently knew that as they sent a representative to the site to secure the property after the fire.

Who was the last on the site? Doesn't really matter. What the fire department did or didn't do when putting out the fire really doesn't matter. Because there was a company rep there to secure the site afterwards. That company rep would have been the one responsible to make sure the property was either operable and safe or needing to be towed away.

Some reports indicate that the rep was someone who was a track specialist not a person who worked with engines. That is not the fire departments fault.

The company is squirming IMO. Those law suits are going to be huge.

Yes, this will go to court and they will do everything to not be at fault. I really feel for all the victim's friends and families. This will likely be drawn out for years and years.

 

[Linda7NJ]

I admit I was kind of taken aback when I read that the engineer parked that train loaded with oil products and went to the hotel and went to bed. Meanwhile leaving one engine running.

I am old school... you don't leave your vehicle running unattended, you don't leave a dryer running and not be home. So why would you leave a train engine running, with cars loaded with fuel, and no one around to get attention if something goes wrong?

Probably the same reasons truckers do.
I don't know the reasons, I just know they do. Something about Diesel engines or something.. I dunno?

 

[matou]

Death toll hits 15 in Lac-Mégantic, amid criminal probe

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2013/07/09/lac-megantic-quebec-train-explosion.html

 

[matou]

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has confirmed a railway employee was present at the scene when firefighters dealt with a locomotive blaze, just before the freight train carrying crude oil careened at high speeds into Lac-Mégantic and exploded.

The safety board's comments at a briefing in town Tuesday morning follow comments by the head of the company at the centre of the tragedy that suggested firefighters had shut down the locomotive – disabling its brakes – hours before it rolled out of control.

"Hey, Train from Hell, never come back here again. You're no longer welcome." (my translation).

Donald Ross, the TSB investigator in charge, said the train began rolling down around 12:56 a.m. on Saturday. It moved down a 1.2 degree grade, which in railway terms is steep.

The runaway train rolled for up to 20 minutes, covering a distance of 9.7 kilometres, before jumping the tracks in the downtown of Lac-Mégantic at 1:14 a.m.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...lowed-to-return-home-tuesday/article13086475/

 

[Paul]

There's finally an official statement about where the locomotives ended up. Apparently the complete train rolled down the hill into the town. The locomotives were in the front and somehow stayed on the rails and continued on. But, of course, the other cars tipped over and detached in the middle of town.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/death-toll-in-lac-megantic-train-disaster-rises-to-15-1.1359434

At a press conference TSB investigator Donald Ross said "The locomotive detached from the rest of the train and carried through the rest of the town and out the other side, approximately six-tenths of a mile".

People over at the rail forum are bewildered that there are still no photos of the locomotives. There should be some photos from news helicopters, but... no photos. Here's the thread over there:

http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=151084&start=150

And an article about the possibility of propane cars on the siding:

http://www.pressherald.com/news/propane-suspected-in-explosions_2013-07-09.html

 

[mysteriew]

"Hey, Train from Hell, never come back here again. You're no longer welcome." (my translation).



http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...lowed-to-return-home-tuesday/article13086475/

From this link it also says:

The TSB said it would look at operational procedures, including why the train was parked on the main track rather than a siding.

Mr. Belkaloul also noted the tank car models used to carry the fuel were generic tankers that could be used for any liquid load and were not double-hulled or reinforced with shields.

and....Mr. Burkhardt plans to visit Lac-Mégantic in the "next couple of days," he told CBC on Tuesday. He previously said he had received many hateful e-mails and hoped no one would shoot at him.

They are also questioning the condition of the track.

LOL I don't know why the company man would think that people might shoot at him. After all he is only trying to absolve his company for burning down their town and killing their people.

 

[mysteriew]

There's finally an official statement about where the locomotives ended up. Apparently the complete train rolled down the hill into the town. The locomotives were in the front and somehow stayed on the rails and continued on. But, of course, the other cars tipped over and detached in the middle of town.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/death-toll-in-lac-megantic-train-disaster-rises-to-15-1.1359434

At a press conference TSB investigator Donald Ross said "The locomotive detached from the rest of the train and carried through the rest of the town and out the other side, approximately six-tenths of a mile".

People over at the rail forum are bewildered that there are still no photos of the locomotives. There should be some photos from news helicopters, but... no photos. Here's the thread over there:

http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=151084&start=150

And an article about the possibility of propane cars on the siding:

http://www.pressherald.com/news/propane-suspected-in-explosions_2013-07-09.html

BBM

It's starting to sound like a 'perfect storm' situation.

Fire at the locomotive and the engine being turned off.

Transporter employee sent to the fire scene, who reportedly didn't know anything about engines

Loaded cars of crude oil left on the main track

Loaded cars of propane left on the side track

Single hulled tankers in use

 

[matou]

Oh and don't forget the slope and the fact that liquids were moving and sloshing around in the tankers giving even more momentum than solid cargo would, IMO. Make that FLAMMABLE liquids. sigh.

 

[tarabull]

Quebec train disaster zone a 'crime scene'; police raise possibility of charges

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/questions-...antic-disaster-080456010.html?.tsrc=samsungbm

 

[Paul]

Here's a Transportation Safety Board page with information, and there is a photo of the locomotives there: http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/enquetes-investigations/rail/2013/R13D0054/R13D0054.asp

Link to their front page: http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/index.asp

 

[tarabull]

Quebec police boost list of disaster missing and dead to 60

Canadian police said on Wednesday that the number of dead and missing after a crude oil freight train disaster in the small Quebec town of Lac-Megantic had risen to 60 from 50.

http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCABRE9690HJ20130710

 

[wfgodot]

The Mail on the boss-man's accusations:

The president and CEO of the railway's parent company says an employee failed to properly set the brakes of the train that crashed into a town in Quebec, killing at least 15 people while another 45 [and now 60] remain missing.

Edward Burkhardt made the comments during a visit Wednesday to the town that was devastated by the runaway oil train four days ago.

'It was questionable whether hand brakes were put I place at this time,' Burkhardt said.

'I don't think any employees removed brakes. They failed to set the brakes.'

'I think he did something wrong ...We think he applied some hand brakes but the question is did he apply enough of them.

'He said he applied 11 hand brakes we think that's not true. Initially we believed him but now we don't.'
---

more at the link, with pictures, etc.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...le-thought-VAPORIZED-vaporized-people-60.html

 

[matou]

Lac-Megantic: 20 people now confirmed dead in Quebec train carnage

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/...w_confirmed_dead_in_quebec_train_carnage.html

 

[matou]

Train engineer suspended without pay

The engineer in charge of the train that derailed and exploded in Lac-Mégantic is "under police control," according to the head of the rail company.

At an impromptu news conference on Wednesday, Ed Burkhardt, the president of Rail World Inc., remained unflappable as he addressed a flurry of reporters who crowded around him.

Rail World Inc. is the parent company of the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway (MMA), which owns the train that derailed and set off a series of fatal explosions at 1 a.m. ET on Saturday.

Burkhardt said the engineer has been suspended without pay in the wake of the police investigation. He said he believes police have discussed prosecuting the engineer.

"I don't think he'll be back working with us," he told reporters shortly after he arrived in the town this afternoon.

“It was our employee that was responsible for setting the brakes on the train … That employee is under investigation and is not working.”

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montr...tic-quebec-train-explosion-investigation.html

 

[carbuff]

I figured that whatever the truth of the matter, the engineer was going to be the scapegoat...

 

[Snoopster]

Not exactly news on this case, but my heart just breaks for the people of Lac Megantic.

Many lives were lost at the Musi-Café ...it looks like it was such a lovely place. A beautiful summer evening...ending in such a horrific manner.

From the Musi-Café facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Le-Musi-Caf%C3%A9/135301506521360?id=135301506521360&sk=photos_stream

 

[Woodland]

Do not see the attached video posted - apologies if it is.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2013/07/09/quebec-lac-megantic-eyewitness-video.html

I find it difficult to summon the right words for all concerned - an unbelievable situation where complacency on the job may be to blame - and not just the train engineer.

 

[carbuff]

Oh, my, what a lovely little place, and lovely town.

:cry:

 

[mysteriew]

It would be easier to believe the owner that it was the fault of the engineer, if he hadn't blamed it on everybody else first. He also doesn't inspire confidence when he says that at first he believed him, then he didn't believe him.

I hope they go over those engines with a fine tooth comb, and that they closely check those black boxes. Something is making me think they are going to find problems with those engines, the brakes or some other issues.

It was vandals. It was the fire department. No it was the engineer.