Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio) No. of derailments in United States each year and dangers involved in transportation of hazardous materials via rail in relation to such accidents noted. Recent derailments in Waverly, Tennessee, and Youngstown, Florida, mentioned. Chlorine gas escapage in Youngstown accident described.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite

(Panama City, Florida) Cleanup attempts detailed; some progress reported [Bay Cnty. civil defense director James HEISLER - says crisis not over by any means. Situation now under control, but anything can happen and they don't want situation similar to that in Waverly.] Arrival from Waverly of National Trans. Safety Board member Francis McAdams noted. [McADAMS - cites reason for most derailments as connected with railroad bed, track or wheels and says it's usually a maintenance problem.] Sabotage not suspected here or in Waverly, according to McAdams.
REPORTER: David Dick

(Studio) Report on econs. of railroading.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite

(Chicago, Illinois) Illinois's record of derailments noted; accidents in switching yds. of Chicago and E. Saint Louis and one in Dongola, Illinois, mentioned. ["Modern Railroads" editor Thomas SHEDD - says RR's don't have money to maintain lines.] [Chicago Northwestern railroad spokesperson James MacDONALD - notes amount of bad track in United States and cites reasons.] [SHEDD - describes problems of alternate transportation methods.] Statistics noted showing that more profitable RR's, like the Santa Fe, who can do more traffic maintenance, have fewer derailments.
REPORTER: Don Webster

(Studio) Upcoming Safety Board hearings on issue of hauling dangerous materials by train and by truck noted.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite