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Sunburned, hot and more than a little annoyed!
By now I'm sure everyone has heard about our little mishap in Baltimore last week. A CSX train carrying hazmats derailed in a tunnel underneath downtown Baltimore and caught fire.
Due to it being in a tunnel the heat became intense causing water mains to break under the street and the fire burned untill the last car was removed early this morning. There were cars with lumber and paper that could not be reached and continued burning til they burned themselves out. Several cars that were able to be removed essentially disintegrated as they were being removed. Large sections of track melted.
All but two major east/west streets are closed along the length of the tunnel.(1.7 miles) Light Rail which runs over the tunnel above ground has been halted since this happened. Buses and commuters are taking major detours. The 15 minute drive across town now takes an hour.
There's talk that it could be six weeks until all is back to normal. Inspections on the tunnel will have to be made, streets torn out and replaced, utilities and wiring replaced etc.
Due to this "little" mishap I have been stuck directing traffic since Wednesday night. My vest is soaked by the time I get home and has to be peeled off. I am majorly sunburned and not enjoying the humidity at all. And I have it far better than the people that have to go into the tunnel.
Who in the h*** thought it would be a good idea to run hazmats under a major city? I mean this is common sense. If they can't be taken through tunnels that carry cars how can they be taken through any tunnels?
After talking with a few of the CSX employees I learned this is apparently legal since there is less a chance of an accident then if it were in traffic. Then again when something like this happens maybe that will change. There may be less a chance of an accident with trains in a tunnel but when they do, boy is it a disaster.
Due to it being in a tunnel the heat became intense causing water mains to break under the street and the fire burned untill the last car was removed early this morning. There were cars with lumber and paper that could not be reached and continued burning til they burned themselves out. Several cars that were able to be removed essentially disintegrated as they were being removed. Large sections of track melted.
All but two major east/west streets are closed along the length of the tunnel.(1.7 miles) Light Rail which runs over the tunnel above ground has been halted since this happened. Buses and commuters are taking major detours. The 15 minute drive across town now takes an hour.
There's talk that it could be six weeks until all is back to normal. Inspections on the tunnel will have to be made, streets torn out and replaced, utilities and wiring replaced etc.
Due to this "little" mishap I have been stuck directing traffic since Wednesday night. My vest is soaked by the time I get home and has to be peeled off. I am majorly sunburned and not enjoying the humidity at all. And I have it far better than the people that have to go into the tunnel.
Who in the h*** thought it would be a good idea to run hazmats under a major city? I mean this is common sense. If they can't be taken through tunnels that carry cars how can they be taken through any tunnels?
After talking with a few of the CSX employees I learned this is apparently legal since there is less a chance of an accident then if it were in traffic. Then again when something like this happens maybe that will change. There may be less a chance of an accident with trains in a tunnel but when they do, boy is it a disaster.
Just keep visualizing ice and anything else that will help you keep cool!! 
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