A look down into the trench where the derailment of the molten sulfur train occurred about 36 hours earlier. Molten sulfur isn't toxic, just a bit smelly and very hot! "Molten" sulfur is really just heated elemental sulfur. Over 200 degrees, sulfur becomes "molten". It is dark red in color and had a consistency similar to lava.
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This shot wasn't accessible the day before as Littleton's finest had the area blocked off. Note that Main 1 has been removed as well as the northbound track for Light Rail!
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At this point, all the tank cars are out of the way. Much of Main 1 is gone right now, and Main 2 is missing or in bad shape as well. Main 3 doesn't need too much work to get it operational. Note the gondolas (which are on the back end of a work train) on Main 3 in the distance.
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You can see where much of the retaining wall has been completely removed. The CAT in the foreground is on the road bed for Main 1. You can see that Main 2 has been removed as well.
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I title this picture "Ties and Axles"! All the discarded (and destroyed) concrete ties and wheel sets have been piled up near the south end of the derailment.
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Crews are working to tear down what remains of the damaged retaining wall separating the freight tracks from Light Rail.
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The last five cars from the derailment of the "Stinky Slinky" are being brought out of the Littleton Trench using two tractors. The one closest to the camera is pushing and the one in the distance is ensuring they don't run away. From right to left, the tracks are southbound Light Rail, northbound Light Rail, Main 1, Main 2 and Main 3.
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One of the derailed tank cars is being pushed by a tractor (along with four other cars) out of the Littleton Trench on Main 2. Some of these tank cars don't have anything that even comes close to resembling a coupler!
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I'm not entirely sure where this southbound baretable came from! The train is headed for Big Lift south of Denver, but there is a major derailment two miles to the north. I suspect the train may have been used to bring supplies up to the derailment, but I'm not certain.
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About two miles south of the derailment of the molten sulfur train a day earlier, this northbound tied down on Main 2. Even though the lighting is dreadful, I liked the shot because all three units are 60-series! Two SD60Ms and a GP60M. All wearing different schemes too, I might add.
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Three new wheel sets are being brought into the trench on Main 1. Since there is a downhill slope into the trench, the CAT just stayed ahead of the wheel sets and let them free-roll down into the trench, keeping them from going too fast.
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A 470mm shot looking up the Littleton trench from the south end. Three tank cars have been re-railed and placed on Main 2. Note that there is quite a bit of damage on the northbound Light Rail track.
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BNSF was constantly bringing in new wheel sets on the back of flat bed trailers. Three wheel sets per trailer. The new wheel sets are used to transport the derailed tank cars...at least, the ones that can be re-railed!
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Man, that had to hurt! One of the 17 tank cars that derailed in the Littleton trench has been successfully re-railed on new wheel sets.
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A look at what is left of Main 1 through a chain link fence. The tracks were torn up pretty bad...as a result of the derailment or as a result of the work crews...or both!
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