Cause Of Train Derailment Unknown
ADAMS COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4)- What caused three train cars to derail in Adams County Friday morning remains a mystery.
The train cars derailed at about 10 a.m. near 58th and York, just west of Commerce City, at the North Washington Park industrial switching yard.
The cars that derailed were a grain car, an empty coal car and a tanker. The tanker rolled into a power pole but was carrying diesel exhaust fuel which is non-flammable.
Xcel Energy crews had to remove the pole before they could repair the line. There was no power outage because it was re-routed around the area.
Crews at the switching yard said it would take a day or two to off load the derailed cars.
The cars belong to the Denver Rock Island Railroad which is described on the company's website as: The Denver Rock Island Railroad is a short line railroad switching carrier that was started in 1993 and is privately owned and operated. The DRIR consists of three yards North Washington Park, Stockyards, and Airlawn. The railroad interchanges rail cars from both the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern. Located in Commerce City Colorado. The DRIR has many trans loading sights that are privately owned and operated. Mars Steel Corporation is one of the operators that trans loads on a 30 acre site with spaces available. The Denver Rock Island Railroad and Mars Steel have a secure area for its operations, with switching available thru out the day.
