Lac-Megantic Disaster

From the CBC (link)

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Derailment site was apparently at the curve near the Rue Laval grade crossing.

Crude oil is flammable, contrary to  popular perception:

As a railfan, I like the idea of the railroads cashing in on the oil boom. As a citizen, I am concerned that this could happen in my town. What I want to know, is how the Montreal  Maine and Atlantic could just "tie-up" a crude oil train for the night, and leave it completely unattended. You can bet that if a similar accident occurred on the West Coast, that it just might put a stop to crude-oil rail shipments in the U.S., period. The oil industry has discovered that even with the greater cost of rail shipment versus pipleline, that rail gives more options as to which market the oil is sold (link.)  So, given this fact, maybe it is time that the oil industry steps up and helps to provide security for rail oil shipments. Not surpisingly, the Canadian newspaper Globe and Mail is editorializing in favor of more U.S. pipeline construction.

Montreal Maine and Atlantic press releases: July 7, July 6.


Meanwhile, back at the railfan ranch, Railpictures.net has some excellent MM&A oil train photos, viz.