At about 2 am on Monday, March 31, 2008, a Union Pacific train derailed on the north side of Northfield, Minesota. About 24 rail cars jumped the tracks. Three tanker cars were of special interest among those off the tracks: a sulfuric acid rail car, seemingly intact; a sulfuric acid car upright with a small leak, and a peanut oil car. There were also ethanol rail cars, but they were not involoved. The leaking acid car was into the dirt, and the leak was not visible. A small pool of acid was accumulating in the ditch. No air plume visible. Locals were performing air monitoring in the neighborhood to the west. Northfield FD in command. St. Paul Fire Department was called in, with their Chemical Assestmet Team and the Emergency Response Team.
Union Pacific Railroad retained Hulcher as their contractor on site. CTEH consultant enroute for RR to do area air monitoring. Dave Morrison of Rochester MPCA is the State's lead responder. Jason Moran, MPCA, assisting. FD obtaining lime from the area to spread in the puddled acid. RR locating an acid tanker to pump off into.
