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Metra's Burlington Northern Santa Fe line experienced delays of more than an hour and a half Monday morning after a mechanical problem and fire on a locomotive halted all commuter service on the line temporarily, officials say.
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Inbound Train 1232, which left Lisle at 7:13 a.m., stopped just east of the Prospect Avenue crossing in Clarendon Hills about 7:30 a.m., and smoke and flames later were seen coming from the locomotive, Metra and fire officials said.
Metra spokesman Michael Gillis said the smoke was first noticed after the train stopped.
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The source of the problem appeared to be the locomotive's alternator, which supplies electric power from the diesel engine to the traction motors, Gillis said. The burning material was likely insulation and rubber, he said.
"It's not uncommon for a traction motor, sticking brakes or some other issue in the engine to create smoke," he said.
The smoke continued intermittently for about 40 minutes, and then flames became visible, Gillis said. When a train mechanic couldn't extinguish the flames, the fire department was called.
Clarendon Hills Fire Chief Brian Leahy said firefighters arrived on the scene at 8:11 a.m.
The incident resulted in the line being shut for about 30 minutes while firefighters responded. About 14 trains were delayed from 13 minutes to as long as 100 minutes, according to Gillis.
Passengers in the car closest to the engine were first moved away to safety, but by about 8:10 a.m. the whole train was evacuated, Gillis said.
"At no time was there a threat to any of the coaches catching fire," Gillis said.
There were about 800 passengers on board. No one was injured.
Leahy said firefighters tried to extinguish the fire with extinguishers but had to use hoses because "there was just too much fire to put out." He said the fire was extinguished in about 30 minutes. Firefighters from Hinsdale assisted the Clarendon Hills department, Leahy said.
The passengers boarded another train for the remainder of their trip. The disabled train was at the station but in the middle track, so passengers had to walk over one track to get to the platform.
By 9:15 a.m., trains were moving in both directions but were running late.
The locomotive was undergoing inspection at a rail yard, and the cause is under investigation, Gillis said.
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8
Inbound Train 1232, which left Lisle at 7:13 a.m., stopped just east of the Prospect Avenue crossing in Clarendon Hills about 7:30 a.m., and smoke and flames later were seen coming from the locomotive, Metra and fire officials said.
Metra spokesman Michael Gillis said the smoke was first noticed after the train stopped.
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- @IronMike100 No one . The trains are supposed to fix themselves
tbirdal
at 5:51 PM June 15, 2015
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The source of the problem appeared to be the locomotive's alternator, which supplies electric power from the diesel engine to the traction motors, Gillis said. The burning material was likely insulation and rubber, he said.
"It's not uncommon for a traction motor, sticking brakes or some other issue in the engine to create smoke," he said.
The smoke continued intermittently for about 40 minutes, and then flames became visible, Gillis said. When a train mechanic couldn't extinguish the flames, the fire department was called.
Clarendon Hills Fire Chief Brian Leahy said firefighters arrived on the scene at 8:11 a.m.
The incident resulted in the line being shut for about 30 minutes while firefighters responded. About 14 trains were delayed from 13 minutes to as long as 100 minutes, according to Gillis.
Passengers in the car closest to the engine were first moved away to safety, but by about 8:10 a.m. the whole train was evacuated, Gillis said.
"At no time was there a threat to any of the coaches catching fire," Gillis said.
There were about 800 passengers on board. No one was injured.
Leahy said firefighters tried to extinguish the fire with extinguishers but had to use hoses because "there was just too much fire to put out." He said the fire was extinguished in about 30 minutes. Firefighters from Hinsdale assisted the Clarendon Hills department, Leahy said.
The passengers boarded another train for the remainder of their trip. The disabled train was at the station but in the middle track, so passengers had to walk over one track to get to the platform.
By 9:15 a.m., trains were moving in both directions but were running late.
The locomotive was undergoing inspection at a rail yard, and the cause is under investigation, Gillis said.