Calgary can't catch break!

[CsqU4r3d]

Well survived the flood with no issues....now just down the road a piece, we have a partial train derailment due to a failing railway bridge deck over the river...possibly some hazardous flammable materials on board! Yay!! got my go bag packed.

[Barkingdog]

How horrible , it's right over a body of water so it will get into the water too . have your heard of sure if it's hazardous flammable materials for sure yet. Be sure to take all your importance papers with you too.

[CsqU4r3d]

There are 4 cars full of petroleum distillate (There are three classes of distillate products:
Light: Liquid Petroleum Gas(LPG), gasoline, and naptha.
Medium: Kerosene (and jet fuel) and diesel.
Heavy/Residuum: Heavy fuel/bunker fuel, wax, and asphalt),The situation has stabilized somewhat in that the bridge hasn't dropped any further. Next phase will be to pump out the endangered cars and transfer the cargo to waiting rail cars on an adjacent bridge. When they do that the situation is at it's most volatile for potential explosion. I have all my and the crew's important stuff in a go bag. Just hope the crap doesn't get in the Bow River...

[Barkingdog]

Originally Posted by CsqU4r3d

There are 4 cars full of petroleum distillate (There are three classes of distillate products:
Light: Liquid Petroleum Gas(LPG), gasoline, and naptha.
Medium: Kerosene (and jet fuel) and diesel.
Heavy/Residuum: Heavy fuel/bunker fuel, wax, and asphalt),The situation has stabilized somewhat in that the bridge hasn't dropped any further. Next phase will be to pump out the endangered cars and transfer the cargo to waiting rail cars on an adjacent bridge. When they do that the situation is at it's most volatile for potential explosion. I have all my and the crew's important stuff in a go bag. Just hope the crap doesn't get in the Bow River...

That would be tragic if the crap got into Bow River. I hope there will be no explosion. Be safe .

[pattymac]

I saw that this morning. As if everything else wasn't enough!!

[hazelrunpack]

Holy catz! If it's not one thing, it's another... How long will it take them to pump the cars out? And how close are you to that bridge?

[Goldfields]

Wow! That's a really scary thing for someone to have to rectify. I mean people can evacuate but some brave people have to get in there and fix it. Hope everyone stays safe.

[CsqU4r3d]

Amazingly it took less than 24 hours ... they first tethered all 6 endangered rail cars together then secured them to some other cars filled with rocks and boulders to anchor them and keep them from floating downstream just in case the bridge collapsed .Then vaccuum trucks were used to suck the petroleum distillate from the endangered cars and transfered it to waiting cars on an adjacent track. Then using boom cranes to help support the endangered cars, they hooked up locomotives to either end of the cars and pulled them all off the damaged bridge! Kudos to all the folks who made it happen, a mammoth undertaking. Hazel I am about a mile as the crow flies from that bridge...too close for comfort!

[Goldfields]

Yes, well done! Glad it is over so soon, now you can heave a sigh of relief and get on with normal life again.

[Dog Dancer]

I've been watching this on the news too. Crazy stuff, lots of finger pointing going on as to why the bridge wasn't inspected after the flood before the trains were allowed back on it. DUH, yeah! Glad they got it all sorted out safely though. It would have been horrible if that stuff had gotten into the river. I think it will be some time though before life is back to "normal" in Alberta!

Saw a story on the news about the zoo, and all the mud they had there. Six feet of water. They said they lost a couple of peacocks and several of their tropical fish. I had to almost giggle at the thought that the fish were the ones that suffered the most from the water - that just doesn't sound right does it! I realize that the ones they lost were tropical type fish I guess and the different water (salt/non-salt) and the cold flood water would kill many, but it just seemed odd.

[CsqU4r3d]

There is a certain irony to fish not surviving a flood! The zoo took a pretty hard hit....the giraffes were particularly affected, early on they thought the older female might not make it, but she is improving. The hippos as well almost got out thru a broken window in their enclosure... that would have been a sight,,,hippos floating down the river! A brave zoo employee waded in and barricaded the busted window. Personally there has been enough excitement around the city for me! I am so very grateful to have come out of all this unscathed.

[Barkingdog]

That is great the mess on the bridge did not blow up and everyone it OK.

[hazelrunpack]

Whew! Glad the cleanup was such a smooth operation! Did the city have to hire a contractor of some sort to do the work or do they have hazmat crews on staff?