Repair crews on Wednesday started the task of recovering four locomotives and nine empty coal cars that derailed two hours before dawn when an empty, 109-car coal train struck a rock slide in the New River Gorge below Sandstone Falls.

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CSX train derails in Summers County, injuring 3 in locomotive crew
SANDSTONE — Repair crews spent Wednesday marshaling equipment and beginning the task of recovering four locomotives and nine coal cars that

3 injured in fiery train derailment caused by rockslide

yesterday

SANDSTONE, W.Va. (AP) — An empty coal train hit a rockslide along tracks in West Virginia on Wednesday morning, causing a fiery derailment that injured three crewmembers, CSX Transportation said in a statement.

Four locomotives and 22 empty cars derailed in Summers County near the New River, CSX said. The lead locomotive, which carried a conductor, an engineer and an engineer trainee, caught fire and the crewmembers were being evaluated and treated for non-life threatening injuries, the company said. ... CSX said an unoccupied locomotive was partially in the waterway where an unknown amount of diesel fuel and oil spilled, officials said. Environmental teams were deploying containment measures.

The derailment occurred in a remote area just south of Sandstone inside the New River National Park and Preserve, according to a statement from the West Virginia Emergency Management Division. Several state agencies are monitoring the situation and said public water systems downstream have been notified and are monitoring for any potential public health impacts.

No hazardous materials were being transported and there was no danger to the public, CSX said. ... The company said employee and community safety was a top priority as it sends teams to assess the situation and develop a recovery plan.

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Water company stops drawing from New River after train derailment



Smoke rises from an empty CSX coal train that struck a rock slide along the tracks near Sandstone early Wednesday morning. Four locomotives and 22 empty cars derailed in Summers County near the New River, CSX said. CSX said an unoccupied locomotive was partly in the waterway, where an unknown amount of diesel fuel and oil spilled. Three employees of CSX were taken to the hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries.

By J. Damon Cain the register-herald 21 hrs ago

sandstone, w.va. – After striking debris from a rockslide covering the tracks, a CSX train pulling 22 empty coal cars derailed in Summers County early Wednesday, sending one of four engines into the New River and three employees to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The locomotive engine that ended up in the water also caught fire as burning debris from the accident floated downstream in this remote recess of the county. ... Another locomotive ended up on its side on the embankment, not far from the water’s edge. ... In a prepared statement, the company said an undetermined amount of oil and diesel fuel spilled from the locomotives and some got into the river.

Environmental containment measures are being taken, CSX said in a press release. That was repeated by Terry Fletcher, chief communications officer for the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, making an impromptu appearance on Wednesday morning at an administrative press conference previously scheduled by Gov. Jim Justice.

CSX also said no hazardous materials were being transported and there was no danger to the public. ... State agencies are monitoring the situation. Officials at public water systems downstream have been notified and are monitoring for potential public health impacts.

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