Rail Safety Megathread. Updated July 23, 2024

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23. 2016: CSX train derails in Northeast Washington, leaking hazardous chemicals and disrupting travel

Transportation

CSX train derails in Northeast Washington, leaking hazardous chemicals and disrupting travel

By Faiz Siddiqui, Luz Lazo and Michael Smith May 1, 2016

A CSX freight train derailed in Northeast Washington early Sunday, spilling hazardous chemicals along a busy rail corridor. The wreck stranded some residents away from their homes, forced the closure of a Metro station and snarled traffic as emergency personnel sought to contain the leaks and clear the wreckage.

Officials said 14 rail cars of the 175-car train left the tracks. A rail engineer and a conductor had been aboard the train but were accounted for, authorities said. No evacuations were ordered, and no one was injured.
....

Peter Hermann, Perry Stein and Ashley Halsey III contributed to this report.

Faiz Siddiqui is a metro reporter covering transportation and local issues. He has previously contributed to NPR, The Boston Globe and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Follow @faizsays

Luz Lazo writes about transportation and development. She has recently written about the challenges of bus commuting, Metro’s dark stations, and the impact of sequestration on air travel.
Follow @luzcita

Michael Smith covers breaking news on the weekends.

There was this question:

Rain-Snow Line
5/1/2016 8:01 PM EDT [Edited]

How do freights get thru Washington if they are coming from Cumberland?

ETA -- GreaterGreaterWashington to the rescue.

From that article: