The derailment Wednesday of a freight train east of Ludlow, California, has closed National Trails Highway (aka Route 66) “for an unknown duration” due to a hazardous liquid spill.
The Victorville Daily Press reports the accident just east of town shortly after noon involved 25 to 35 railcars.
San Bernardino County Fire Department spokesperson Tracey Martinez said one of the tank cars spilled several thousands of gallons of denatured alcohol, which is flammable, before it was patched.
No injuries were reported.
The BNSF Railway will be on the scene to clean up the spill. The California Highway Patrol told the newspaper that National Trails Highway will remain closed from Ludlow to two miles east for an unknown duration.
Here are images from the scene by the San Bernardino County Fire Department:
LUDLOW: #SBCoFD on scene of a TRAIN DERAILMENT east of Ludlow, north of National Trails Hwy. 25-35 BNSF cargo railcars, no injuries, no fire, Haz-Mat on scene. No impact to I-40. /tm pic.twitter.com/rnETHkniml
— San Bernardino County Fire (@SBCOUNTYFIRE) March 3, 2021
Ludlow (final): Haz-Mat leak mitigated. @BNSFRailway & Co Fire Haz-Mat remain on scene for extensive clean-up process. pic.twitter.com/KmH8Qz1jz8
— San Bernardino County Fire (@SBCOUNTYFIRE) March 4, 2021
Ludlow contains fewer than 100 residents but remains notable for Route 66 travelers because of a couple of gas stations, the historic Ludlow Cafe, and the cheap but clean Ludlow Motel.
UPDATE 3/5/2021: According to this San Bernardino County road closures map, that section of National Trails Highway has been reopened.
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The rail line is the BNSF’s artery from the West Coast to Amarillo, Kansas City, and Chicago and is the busiest freight line in the country. BSNF will spend whatever is necessary to get the wreck cleared and track rebuilt as quickly as possible. I’ll bet the road is closed for a couple/few days to let the railroad remove as much as possible, but “indefinitely” is a serious exaggeration.