Train Wreck In Mer Rouge, LA Caught on Video 10/05/14

[Mark W]

Liquid Argon leak, successful cleanup, supposedly the tracks are already re-opened.

http://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/local/2014/10/06/engineers-stable-train-wreckage-removal-begins/16798819/

[nkalanaga]

One good thing is that argon not only isn't toxic but also isn't flammable or corrosive, and is a natural trace component in air, at almost 1%, the third most common gas after nitrogen and oxygen.  So the only real danger is frostbite and possibly asphyxiation if one gets too close to the leak.  They got lucky on that one!

[Iain]

Insurance on that one's going to be interesting.

Hope the crew recovers, but fractured spine doesn't sound too good.

People shooting the video didn't sound too bright.

[peteski]

People shooting the video didn't sound too bright.

We're talking rural Louisiana here, right?

[Iain]

I got the impression reading some of the news articles that the truck was stuck there for quite some time, leading me to wonder why no one called the number on the little placard.

[peteski]

I got the impression reading some of the news articles that the truck was stuck there for quite some time, leading me to wonder why no one called the number on the little placard.

We're talking rural Louisiana here, right? 

Heh, heh, heh...let's wait and see the train crash into the truck ... heh, heh, heh.

[GaryHinshaw]

My sympathies to the crew; this hazard must be the worst part of the job.

We're talking rural Louisiana here, right? 

Let's refrain from casting aspersions on a group here, please.

[Scottl]

I'm always surprised when I see these situations where a truck is stuck on the rails at a crossing.  You would think that on a highway (as in this case) that any crowning at the crossing would be removed to avoid or minimize precisely this issue.  The crossings that I travel over regularly have been reworked at least once each during the past decade, and one in the city where I live that crowned prominently was fixed by raising the road on the approaches.  The warning signs for trucks remain as well.  This was a tragedy for the train crew, but it could have been much worse had hazmat been released from train or truck.

In this era of low cost and widely available GPS databases for drivers, it is almost criminal to me that this kind of crossing is not flagged for drivers of large trucks to alert them to the potential risk. Route planning should start with this kind of risk assessment, just like overhead wires for tall loads. 

[lock4244]

People shooting the video didn't sound too bright.

I would think given what they saw unfold before them, their reactions were pretty much what you'd expect. Cudo's for no profanity.

Thoughts are with the crew, hope for a speedy and full recovery.

[Kisatchie]

Let's refrain from casting aspersions on a group here, please.

Too late. The damage has been done. 


Hmm... I'm Ms. Dee Rayle,
Attorney at Law, and I'll
be suing for 100,000
bananas...

[C855B]

Hmm... I'm Ms. Dee Rayle,
Attorney at Law, and I'll
be suing for 100,000
bananas...

That's OK. You'll likely lose on a peel. 

[eric220]

"Holy mother of mumu"

And a catchphrase is born.

[Kisatchie]

That's OK. You'll likely lose on a peel. 

Ha ha ha ha ha   


Hmm... wanna settle
out of court...?

[C855B]

I'll be here all week. Don't forget to tip your server.

 

[eric220]

I saw a report over on N Scale.net that the engine crew is in serious condition. I watched the video again, and the lead loco can be seen leaving the tracks and rolling as it goes out of view.