All light-rail service between the Mineral station and the Englewood station may be shut down for an estimated seven to 10 days after a freight train derailed Friday night on neighboring tracks.
A southbound Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight train carrying molten sulfur derailed about 11:45 p.m. in Littleton.
RTD spokesman Scott Reed said light-rail commuters should add 10 minutes to their travel times Monday. Buses will be running in both directions from the Mineral station to stations in Englewood, stopping at all light-rail stations.
Reed said RTD crews will assess damage to the light-rail tracks Monday. The derailed freight cars struck a retaining wall adjacent to the rails, and there could be damage beneath the tracks.
“We need to get under that retaining wall and see if there is structural damage beyond what is immediately apparent,” Reed said.
Three of the 17 cars involved in the derailment leaked about 100 gallons of liquid sulfur that quickly solidified in the cold air, said Gus Melonas, BNSF spokesman. Two cars fell onto their sides and 15 were leaning.
Neither of the two crew members was harmed, Melonas said. The freight tracks could be repaired and running by this afternoon, he added.
No one was evacuated because the spill was not a health hazard.
Molten sulfur, which smells like rotten eggs, is not toxic and does not pose a risk, Melonas said. Inspectors have taken several readings of the air, which show no contamination.
The liquid sulfur did not seep into the ground or leak into any water source, he said.
“Safety is our No. 1 concern,” he said. “There has been no health or environmental contamination.”
There were three locomotives pulling the 68 cars from Bonneville, Wyo., to Galveston, Texas, Melonas said. The first car to derail was 46th in the train, he said.
About 100 people, including BNSF employees and local, state and federal authorities, are involved in monitoring, cleanup and repair, Melonas said.
It has not yet been determined what caused the derailment or how much damage was caused.
The sulfur is used to make matches, gunpowder, insect repellant and chemicals, Melonas said. It is shipped in chemical form in insulated cars kept at 220 degrees. Once the sulfur comes into contact with the air it quickly solidifies into a thick, chunky sludge.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
