Train Derails into Gunnison River Near Grand Junction, CO - SnowBrains

"Late Tuesday evening, December 2, a Union Pacific train derailed into the Gunnison River in far Western Colorado. The train was traveling in a remote part of the state, between the towns of Whitewater and Bridgeport, when the incident occurred. Speeding along in the darkness, the train came up on a rockslide. A particularly large boulder forced the train off the tracks, sending it crashing into the dark Gunnison River below."

"Search and rescue operations were conducted using a drone to find the location of the crash and a specialized vehicle to access the area. When Grand Junction Fire Department and Mesa County Sheriff's Officers arrived on the scene, they found the engineers pinned in the train engine in about two feet of frigid rushing water. The engineers were finally rescued around 1:30 a.m. without any injuries. Both engineers were evaluated for hypothermia and ultimately were released without further treatment."

"Unfortunately, an estimated 8,120 gallons of diesel spilled from a leak in the locomotive into the Gunnison River. Hazmat units were deployed the following day, and containment booms were used to prevent the fuel from traveling further downstream and affecting the larger Colorado River watershed. Remediation of spilled coal and fuel is currently underway. As of Friday, December 5, 4,460 gallons of fuel had been captured,"

On December 2 a Union Pacific train derailed into the Gunnison River between Whitewater and Bridgeport after a boulder from a rockslide forced it off the tracks. The train had two locomotives, five coal cars, and two engineers who were initially trapped. Search-and-rescue used a drone and specialized vehicle; responders found the engineers pinned in about two feet of frigid water and rescued them around 1:30 a.m.; both were evaluated for hypothermia and released. An estimated 8,120 gallons of diesel leaked into the river. Hazmat teams deployed containment booms and captured 4,460 gallons by December 5. Colorado Parks and Wildlife will monitor water quality and advises duck hunters to avoid downstream areas. The accident underscores the need for increased safety measures on remote track segments.

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