Washington Evening Journal
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Montrose train derailment undergoing cleanup procedures
Michelle Hillestad
Nov. 15, 2021 11:39 am
A Saturday night collision between a freight train and a barge parked along the railway near Montrose, in Lee County, has resulted coal and fuel released into the Mississippi River.
The barge was parked near the rail line extending onto the rail tracks. At 11:50 p.m. a southbound train operated by BNSF hit the nose of the barge derailing two locomotives and causing several coal cars to overturn. At least two coal cars worth of coal were released into the Mississippi River and more than 14,000 gallons of fuel was spilled onto the railway ballast near the river.
BNSF is currently relaying track at the derailment site, and more then 800 gallons of fuel has been removed from cars involved in the crash. HAZMAT crews are on scene, and have a ballast established on the shoreline at the scene to contain remaining fuel lost during the accident. Cleanup efforts along the Mississippi River Road site are currently ongoing at the scene of the derailment according to Caroline Davis of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.