[fr0sty]

https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2023/why-train-derailm...

Most derailments are in train yards. Few cause injuries, fewer cause deaths, and only a handful involve hazardous substances. I don't say that to downplay the mess in OH/PA, but just to make sure the base-rate is understood.

And if you want to compare to europe it looks like US freight rail volume is at least 6x as large. Also no idea if/how they count "fender bender" derailments in switching yards. US standard is >$12k in damage according to TFA.

[mlindner]

A couple months ago I watched an amateur train nerd on youtube cover a derailment that dumped a load of bitumin/tar into a river and destroyed a bridge. This kind of thing happens pretty commonly. No national news covered it, only a couple of local news stations, at least from what I could find on youtube/googling.

It's confusing to me why this specific incident got so much attention.

[Ar-Curunir]

Maybe it should be confusing to you why more such harmful derailings are not getting as much attention

[katbyte]

Link? That sounds like a channel I’d be interested in

And this got the attention it did because it’s far more severe then one load of tar/bitumen in a river - and far more toxic made potentially worse from the choice to. Burn it off to clear the tracks faster

[mlindner]

Youtube has a lot of them.

Here's one about a derailment in Nashville. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dZT7TTQqb4

Here's the one I mentioned about a derailment in middle of nowhere Iowa that dumped tar into the creek. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HpL0Xk9jTI

Here's one of those local news reports: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_pKVdv-Y6Y

[katbyte]

thanks!

[bombcar]

Probably because it was literally visible from space (one it was lit on fire).