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Trains moving again after massive Galena derailment

Freight trains are rolling again after a major derailment near Galena last week. With about 100 trains backed up since Thursday, it will take some time to slowl...

Freight trains are rolling again after a major derailment near Galena last week.

With about 100 trains backed up since Thursday, it will take some time to slowly and safely move them through.

That's after huge bursts of smoke and flames created an overwhelming scene for Galena firefighters.

Just four days after the train derailment, Fire Chief Randy Beadle recalled the tense moments just before six foot flames shot sky high.

"They left their hoses where they were, and they high-tailed it out," he said.  "Yeah, they ran."

Remarkably, no one was hurt.

Some 400 people and agencies are now in place for the massive clean-up.

BNSF railroad will pay for it all.  It's a whopping bill already topping $1 million.

"The BNSF is right on top of things," said Chuck Pedersen, Jo Daviess County Emergency Manager.  "They've done it before, and they know how to get the trains moving."

There are environmental concerns over crude oil during Monday's meeting with community leaders and Rep. Cheri Bustos, (D) Illinois.

The train was carrying some 630,000 gallons from North Dakota.

The EPA is taking steps to prevent seepage into nearby waterways and land.  But there are also legitimate concerns over contamination.

This oil is more volatile, can run-off faster and cause more potential problems.

There's even a wildlife sanctuary nearby.

"There's seven cars still on their side," Rep. Bustos said.  "Some of which are a matter of feet from the slough that leads to the Mississippi River."

According to BNSF, the track is in good shape, and there wasn't operator error.  That puts the rail cars into question.

Other recent derailments are prompting the call for better safety measures.

Chief Beadle says that this situation could have been even worse.

"To encounter this, my guys did a great job."

It was a great job under terrible conditions.

Still, there's plenty of work before everything is back on track in Galena.

 

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