[Paladin2]

1. Locomotive brake torque and steel wheel to steel rail friction may not be sufficient to hold an entire loaded freight train on a grade.

2. The tank cars only separated from the train at the derailment point.

3. Crude can have all sorts of hydrocarbons present. Where does straight run gasoline come from? Also look up BLEVE.

[thackney]

2. The tank cars only separated from the train at the derailment point.

Actually, some few cars, including the engines I think, separated prior to the derailment and stopped on the grade. I don't understand this part.

See post 23 for link.