LITTLETON — A freight train hauling dozens of cars of molten sulfur derailed late Friday, spilling some of its cargo onto the ground and sending an eggy smell into the air, authorities said. There were no reports of any injuries or evacuations.
The three-locomotive, 68-car train derailed around 11:37 p.m. Friday, Littleton police Lt. Mike Broadhead said. The cause of the derailment was not immediately determined.
The northbound train, operated by BNSF, derailed just east of downtown Littleton.
At least 17 cars came off the tracks and several lay on their side in an accordian-like jumble, BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas said. It appeared that sulfur had spilled from fewer than five of the derailed cars.
Several spot fires broke out in the liquid element, but these were quickly extinguished.
Two light rail tracks are in the area and one of these has been affected by the derailment and the other was being inspected. Passenger service was suspended for several hours.
The rotten-egg odor of sulfur could be smelled in places up to a quarter mile away, though a temperature inversion was keeping much of the smell in the vicinity of the derailment, Broadhead said.
