2023 train derailment in rural Maine caused by beaver dam, state officials say

[JACK AYLMER]

WE RECENTLY TOLD YOU HOW BEAVERS HELPED SAVE CZECH TAXPAYERS MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS BY DOING WHAT THEY DO BEST – BUILDING DAMS.

BUT IT TURNS OUT NOT ALL DAMS BUILT BY BEAVERS RESULT IN GOOD FORTUNE. 

AN INVESTIGATION INTO A TRAIN DERAILMENT IN MAINE, WHICH INJURED THREE WORKERS AND CAUSED HUNDREDS OF GALLONS FUEL TO SPILL, IS BEING BLAMED ON A BEAVER DAM.

THE 2023 CRASH OCCURRED IN THE DENSE FOREST OF SOUTHWEST MAINE WHEN THREE LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES AND A HALF A DOZEN TRAIN CARS CARRYING LUMBER AND ELECTRICAL WIRING FELL OFF THE TRACKS.

STATE OFFICIALS REVEALED THIS WEEK; A MASSIVE FLOW OF WATER CREATED BY A BEAVER DAM WASHED OUT THE RAIL TRACKS WHICH CAUSED THE TRAIN TO DERAIL.

THE THREE WORKERS HURT WERE TREATED AND RELEASED AFTER THE CRASH BUT ENVIRONMENTAL RECOVERY EFFORTS JUST WRAPPED UP LATE LAST YEAR.

SOME 500 GALLONS OF DIESEL SATURATED THE SOIL AND ALSO FLOWED INTO NEARBY BODIES OF WATER.

HYDRAULIC AND ENGINE FLUID ALSO SPILLED DURING THE CRASH.

OFFICIALS HAVE SINCE INSTALLED NEW CULVERTS UNDER THE TRACKS AND THE STREAM BED WAS RESTORED.

AS OF NOVEMBER, STATE OFFICIALS SAID ALL WATER CROSSINGS AND EFFECTED INFRASTRUCTURE WERE BACK UP TO STANDARDS.

THE COMPLETE RESTORATION OF THE AREA WAS COMPLETED ON DECEMBER 23RD.

RAILWAY OWNER, CANADIAN PACIFIC KANSAS CITY, LED THE CLEANUP AND REPAIR EFFORTS.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M JACK AYLMER.