Train Wreck in Denver

Here's a little more on the train wreck. Leon and I were driving back from the rock gym this afternoon and I took these photos. The accident happened almost directly across the street from the Seminary. It's hard to tell from this photo but the RTD light rail came off tracks here. At least 24 or 25 of the coal train cars were overturned in front of it. It was still dark and early in the morning when it happened.


Here is a view we got from the gas station right next to where it happened. No damage was sustained there. Obviously the cleanup was underway, however they have a lot of work to do. I would imagine getting all the goal out of there in the snowstorm is daunting task.

Robert Vialpando, RTD's light rail driver, told News 4 there were about 30 people on board. He said he was going northbound when Union Pacific's coal train derailed in front of him and he couldn't slow down in time. The light rail train hit a pile of coal and came off the tracks.

We also noticed an empty Northbound train waiting to get by (going back to Wyoming for more coal I suppose). There is no word on when the train will be functional from the Mineral station. I think it will be quite some time. Evidently it's working from the Oxford station going into downtown.