Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency in Rockcastle County following a multi-car train derailment on Wednesday that his office said resulted in a chemical spill.
Around 16 train cars were involved in the incident, including two carrying molten sulfur that ended up on fire, according to CSX, which operates the train.
“At approximately 2:23pm today, a CSX train derailed north of Livingston, KY. Preliminary information indicates that at least 16 cars were involved, including two molten sulphur cars that have been breached and have lost some of their contents which is on fire,” a statement from the company to ABC News read.
Why is molten steel transported? That sounds bonkers. I’ve never heard of it.
Is it like a cement truck situation?
The original plant with the blast furnaces is directly at the harbor. As this site is surrounded on all sides with other industrial zones and the cities themselves, they built new foundries and rolling mills on a second site. They get (or got, IDK) the liquid steel delivered in rail cars designed for this one purpose. Obviously they are heavily insulated, so they are “just warm” on the outside.
I have to admit that my knowledge of this is old, I don’t even know if the blast furnaces are still running there…