West University residents' fears realized with train derailment

(7/03/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- The mess from a train derailment last night in West University is still there and some area residents say they have been concerned for years an accident like this would happen.

The accident hit literally too close to home for some, with one train car ending up in one resident's back yard. Now they're cleaning up the mess and it's turning out to be a long process.

When you see the flattened fences, torn down trees and destroyed patio near Bissonnet and Weslayan in West University, you know this was a train wreck. But to really understand why neighbors are so frustrated by Monday's derailment, you must you talk to Judy Kissinger.

"I'm just thankful no one got hurt," she said.

Kissinger has owned her home since 1978.

"For years, ever since I've been here, they've been complaining about it," said Kissinger.

She says neighbors know the tracks so intimately they can tell by certain sounds if something is wrong.

"You could hear a clack, clack, clack, clack," said Rich Thomas, who lives near the tracks.

Thomas is one of those neighbors. He's called and emailed Union Pacific for years. Each time, he says, company supervisors ensure him things are fine. But over this past weekend, he and others suspected something was wrong.

Union Pacific says the cause of this derailment has not yet been determined, and that inspectors will be looking at three key factors. The first thing they'll check is if the rails were in good working shape. Then the next thing inspectors will look at is the wheels on the car because if they aren't right, that could cause the train to jump the track. And the last thing investigators would look at is human error. But this can only be determined by looking at the black box, which is inside.

But what really concerns him was the promise that no chemical cars would roll behind their homes. On Monday, chemical cars were attached to the run.

"It could have been a lot worse," he said.

Union Pacific spokesman Joe Arbona disputes neighbors' claims.

"We have tracks that are inspected on a weekly basis," he said.

Arbona also say the Union Pacific is required to carry certain hazardous materials. But Kissinger says what neighbors want is simple -- proper maintenance of tracks and no chemical cars. So they still have concerns.

"Oh yeah, because those are suppose be cleaned out," said Kissinger.

Union Pacific will bring in heavy equipment to clean up the mess, including a vacuum to pick up all the grain both inside and outside of the rail car.
(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)

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