A coal train caught fire Monday morning 5 miles south of Castle
Rock on the southbound Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad
tracks. Firefighters’ quick action saved the railroad nearly $2
million, railroad officials said to Castle Rock Fire Chief Rob
Brown.
The train was headed south for Joseph City, Ariz. All 100
gondolacars were filled with coal. A portion of the locomotive
engine caught fire.
“It kinda’ freaked me out,” said conductor Bill Cruz. “We really
were having a good trip. I looked back in the mirror and saw flames
and I told the engineers, ‘We’re on fire.'”
Cruz hit the emergency response indicator and cut the engine.
The train stopped nearly a quarter-mile later. Cruz and the
engineers grabbed their bags and jumped off, reportedly
unhurt.
Two crews from Castle Rock Fire and Rescue attacked the smoking
fire after the emergency call came in about 9:20 a.m.,
Monday.
Damage was estimated at $500,000-$750,000. Smoke could be seen
from Interstate 25, billowing up from the side of the locomotive
engine No. 9623.
The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad line was closed for
several hours Monday morning after the fire. Railroad officials
moved the damaged locomotive and parked it on a rail spur out of
the way. A replacement engine was brought in to continue the
train’s trip south.
No major intersections were blocked while the train was stopped,
but officials stopped traffic in both directions on the Frontage
Road that parallels I-25 to the west.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Engine oil spewed onto the ground during the incident.
Castle Rock Fire and Rescue, South Metro Fire, Larkspur Fire
District, Douglas County sheriff’s deputies and railroad
representatives responded.