State Seeks To Halt Oil Trains After Lag Bolt ‘Failures’
FEATURE
State Seeks To Halt Oil Trains After Lag Bolt ‘Failures’
MEDIA SPOTLIGHT: “The fiery derailment of an oil train in the Columbia River Gorge has Oregon transportation officials asking for a halt to the massive trains because of concerns their heavier weight could be putting extra strain on a certain type of bolt that fastens the rails to the tracks,” the Associated Press reports.
Train operator Union Pacific has said the June 3 derailment was caused by “a failure of the lag bolts” used to attach the rail to the rail tie on a curved section of track.
The accident spilled 42,000 gallons of oil into the Columbia River, according to AP reporter Gillian Flaccus.
“In a presentation to commission members, Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) administrator Hal Gard said the lag bolts found at the scene were rusted on both ends, indicating they had been sheared off before the derailment,” Flaccus writes.
State investigators are concerned that the heavier weight and shorter length of the oil trains, which began running in that section of the Columbia River Gorge in 2014, might be causing the lag bolts to break. Without the fasteners anchoring the rails to the rail ties, the parallel rails can be pushed further apart, causing a derailment, said Tom Fuller, ODOT’s communications director.
The lag-bolt system reportedly was installed on the route in 2001, and the rails at the location were replaced in 2013.
Tests conducted by both Union Pacific and ODOT for flaws in the tracks didn’t turn up the faulty bolts, Fuller stated.
“Our concern right now is if Union Pacific or ODOT weren’t able to determine that these bolts were broken, how do we know there aren’t more of these bolts broken in other places?” he said. “Where else are these bolts installed? Where else might this exist … just waiting to have a derailment?”
Union Pacific said it has increased the frequency of inspections since the derailment.
Company spokesman Justin Jacobs is unsure why the lag bolts failed, but cited a 99.9% safety record.
“Has a lug nut on a car tire ever failed? Yes, it has. Does it happen very often? No,” Jacobs told AP. “Safety is a priority for us.”
Editor’s Note: Articles in MEDIA SPOTLIGHT are excerpts from publications that show the industry what the public is reading about fasteners and fastener companies.
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