Derailment and explosion in rockford Il.!!!

gewecke · #1 (**permalink**) 06-20-2009, 08:43 PM

Has anyone heard details concerning the train derailment,and fire in rockford? Luckily,only one fatality so far.
I used to live in the area,but too far away to hear any winnebago county traffic.
N9ZAS.

rhalld38 · #2 (**permalink**) 06-20-2009, 09:56 PM

Train derails: Authorities lift evacuation - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

I was listening to the scanner after it happened and some one on Rockford Departure frequency for the airport was describing the disaster as big as a foot ball field.

gewecke · #3 (**permalink**) 06-20-2009, 10:08 PM

Yeah,I have a buddy who's also a ham and works at the airport,but is not a member of RR that I know of.
I'm sure railfans all over the winnebago county area are humming about this!
N9ZAS.

p38fln · #4 (**permalink**) 06-21-2009, 12:37 AM

Probably the oddest explanation I've read so far was that the train hydroplaned - I guess its possible, I just never would have imagined it happening.

rhalld38 · #5 (**permalink**) 06-21-2009, 08:17 AM

And before this terrible incident occured it rained hard and the scanner here at work reported funnel clouds in the area and we also had high winds. Register Star reported that witnesses saw the train hydroplaning in standing water.

gewecke · #6 (**permalink**) 06-21-2009, 05:01 PM

Yeah,it's hard to believe that something that massive could actually separate from the rails due to rain!
I guess anything is possible,right? My buddy at the airport said the scene was so hot they,couldn't retrieve the woman's body right away!
N9ZAS.

freybearfreakfan · #7 (**permalink**) 06-23-2009, 05:30 AM

over 4 inches of rain in an hour, can cause alot of problems. looks like it may have caused this accident. it is unconfirmed, but there were reports on the scanner of the tracks being washed away before the accident. And on the news, a guy was saying he called the police to tell them about the tracks being washed away.

On the scanner, the police, fire, and all rescue personnel did a great job in coordination and evacuations. Being a huge disaster, they did extremely well in the situation.

gewecke · #8 (**permalink**) 06-23-2009, 11:09 AM

I'm thinking that the radio traffic from this disaster would have been worth recording on a tape or disc for future reference,especially for winnebago county preparedness? Of course I'm sure the county records their traffic anyway.
N9ZAS.