50 years since deadly rail explosion in Decatur

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — Fifty years ago this week, a massive explosion at the Norfolk and Western railroad yard staggered the Decatur community.

The devastation began before dawn on July 19, 1974, when a tank car carrying isobutane slammed into a boxcar and had its tanker punctured. The escaping gas created a vapor that was then ignited by a spark.

Seven railroad workers were killed and 140 people were injured. More than 70 homes were destroyed and damage was done to hundreds of buildings in the surrounding area. People reported feeling the shock wave around 40 miles away.

WAND's Doug Wolfe spoke with Bob Sampson who was a Decatur Herald and Review reporter at the time.

Sampson was one of the first reporters at the scene. "You could see this wall of fire," said Sampson. "Just a wall of fire all up and down those tracks."

The Decatur rail explosion was one of a series of very similar incidents in the early 70s including tanker explosions in East St. Louis in 1972 and Houston in 1974. Federal authorities began adopting stricter rail safety standards in the wake of these incidents.

More information can be found about the 1974 Decatur rail explosion at the Illinois Periodicals Online project.