CP train derails along Thompson River
Canwest News Service Published: Thursday, July 03, 2008
A Canadian Pacific train carrying a regulated substance has derailed near Lytton, B.C., after being hit by a rock slide.
Fourteen cars were involved when the train, which had approximately 100 cars in all, was hit in its middle by the slide just northeast of Lytton, said CP spokesperson Mike LoVecchio.
Four cars derailed. Of those, one remained upright on the track Wednesday morning, two were partially submerged in the Thompson River and another remained on the river embankment. The cars were carrying glycol, a component of windshield washer fluid, antifreeze and many other common substances, LoVecchio said.
Glycol is both water soluble and biodegradable but, as a regulated commodity, requires special handling. All of the affected cars are "double-hulled" with a "protective jacket" around each car, adding an extra measure of protection, he added.
© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2008
Overview of the Thompson River's path. Lytton is center-bottom-left on the mapChemicals in the Thompson River were said to be found after four Canadian Pacific Railway (CP Rail) cars containing chemicals derailed near Lytton, British Columbia, Canada on Tuesday night.

The derailment occurred just northeast of Lytton when a landslide hit in the middle of a freight train with about 100 cars at around 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC) Tuesday evening. One car remained on the tracks, another was on a river bank, and two were submerged in the Thompson, one of them fully submerged and the other partially submerged. CP states that the cars were carrying the chemical ethylene glycol, commonly found in products such as antifreeze and windshield washer fluid. Glycol is water soluble and biodegradable but is causing concern to local fisheries and people dependent on aquatic life survival. Even though there is not enough chemical to be toxic after dilution in the water, there is still expressed concern that it may cause additional stress to aquatic life.

CN Rail's path across the North Thompson RiverDespite protective measures, like a protective double hull, investigations found that broken valves and holes are causing the chemical to leak into the river. CP Rail originally denied that any chemical was leaking, but is now driving efforts to plug the leaks.

The Thompson River is a tributary of the larger Fraser River. The area is sensitive to harm because migrating salmon pass through and are in already in dwindling numbers in recent years.