GASSED: The True Story of a Toxic Train Derailment
The tragic story of the 1996 Alberton, Montana, train crash and the largest release of chlorine gas in US railroad history. One train rider is killed, while hundreds are acutely injured. Many will suffer chronic symptoms for years to come, and seek justice for their toxic exposure.
Podcast Description
The tragic story of the 1996 Alberton, Montana, train crash and the largest release of chlorine gas in US railroad history. One train rider is killed, while hundreds are acutely injured. Many will suffer chronic symptoms for years to come, and seek justice for their toxic exposure.
Episodes
Aug 27, 2024
Part 1 Chapter 20 "Reactions" part 1
Aug 27, 2024
Aug 27, 2024
33 min
Chemist Garon Smith and health officials determine the nature of chlorinated chemicals created in the mixing of chlorine and the potassium cresylate. This unwelcome news adds a new layer of concern for spill victims worried about their health and safety.
Pictured: chlorinated compounds found by Smith.
Aug 30, 2024
Aug 30, 2024
24 min
Following the news that chlorinated chemicals were created in the mixing of chlorine and the potassium cresylate, over a week after the spill, the techs begin to tackle how to patch Car three, which continues to leak deadly chlorine gas.
Pictured: Glen Giles gives her testimony at an evacuee meeting, as Lucinda Hodges looks on.
Sep 2, 2024
Part 1 Chapter 22 "Criteria"
Sep 2, 2024
Sep 2, 2024
39 min
Health officials consider the criteria for allowing eventual reentry for residents, and decide that hypersensitivity is not a concern.
Pictured: the leaking chlorine tank and its leaky patch.
Sep 5, 2024
Sep 5, 2024
44 min
The Techs struggle again and again to patch the leaking chlorine car, even as a big spike causes Forward Ops to evacuate. Meanwhile, officials at the evacuee meetings hold a vote on whether to allow public questions.
Pictured: Evacuees vote NO on allowing public questions.
Sep 7, 2024
Part 1 Chapter 25 "ACE"
Sep 7, 2024
Sep 7, 2024
39 min
Untrusting of official reassurances for long-term health and for the safety of the Alberton area, and angry with attempts to shut down public questions at meetings, some residents band together to form ACE, the Alberton Community Evacuees.
Pictured: the infamous white dust on the Kryszko family VCR, a dust Olympus claimed they couldn't find to sample.
Sep 10, 2024
Part 1 Chapter 26 "Halfway Home"
Sep 10, 2024
Sep 10, 2024
35 min
Officials declare two of the four criteria to allow reentry satisfied, with a 100% certainty that no chlorinated compounds migrated offsite, and the claim that the white dust was not harmful, even though officials say they cannot find any white dust to test.
Pictured: Workers in SCBA near Tank 3 of chlorine.
Sep 13, 2024
Sep 13, 2024
35 min
While officials still struggle with Tank Car 3 of liquid chlorine, they move forward with allowing residents to return home, despite a promise that the car would be completely empty.
Pictured: aerial view of the wreck site
Sep 14, 2024
Part 1 Chapter 28 "Going Home" part 2
Sep 14, 2024
Sep 14, 2024
29 min
After 17 days, Alberton is 'open for business', but many residents remain wary of returning to a home they fear is contaminated and threatens their health.
Pictured: Tank Car 3, battered and finally empty.
Sep 17, 2024
Sep 17, 2024
30 min
Many residents return to an environment and homes that make them ill, and begin to understand that chronic chemical sensitivity will follow them wherever they go.
Pictured: the staged contaminated soil.
Sep 19, 2024
Part 2 Chapter 2 "Being Home" part 2
Sep 19, 2024
Sep 19, 2024
28 min
Many residents returning home after the Alberton area is declared safe for reentry continue to report odors and illness.
Pictured: map of the Alberton area

GASSED
A two-book series told in six parts, we follow in detail the day of the catastrophe, the 17-day evacuation as officials struggle to patch the leaking tank, and the years-long aftermath as spill victims seek answers to their chronic illness and chemical sensitivity, while beseeching government agencies for help and taking the railroad company to court to find justice.









