The official narrative is that the derailed tankers were under pressure and at imminent risk of causing a massive explosion. If true, moving them probably wasn't an option.

This was my thoughts. Remove the cars that could be, pump out chemicals still sitting in damaged cars. Then it’s a small clean up

Cheaper for them to do this, add crooked admin and corrupt media to cover for you give money back to admin. No one can do anything because you have both government and media covering. You die of cancer they stay rich. The sheep move on ti something else shiny

There is something called a fire that was causing the vinyl chloride tanks to increase pressure---to the point of an explosion. How big a crane would be needed to "lift" a tank car, and what kind of footing would the crane be on, and how long would it take to get such a crane in place, and who in their right mind would be in the cab to lift a tank car on the verge of an explosion of deadly poisonous gas? That's why.

The world is not made of magic. Emergencies often have an unfavorable clock running out and you can only do what is possible to do in the time available.