(The Birmingham News posted the following Associated Press story on its website on February 11.)
MONTEVALLO, Ala. — Thirty-five rail cars, including several tankers hauling chemicals, derailed just outside Montevallo, officials said. No one was injured.
The derailment Monday at 1 a.m. of the Norfolk Southern Railway train required the brief evacuation of two families who were allowed to return to their homes after authorities determined there were no hazards.
The rail cars left the track at Shelby County 10 and Tomlyn Road in the Aldrich community. Shelby County 10 was blocked for several hours but was open by mid-afternoon.
The cause of the derailment is under investigation, said Susan Bland, a spokeswoman for Norfolk Southern. She said the 149-car train was headed south to Mobile from Birmingham.
The derailment occurred at the 26th car of the train, Bland said. An engineer and conductor were aboard the train, but no one was on the 35 cars that derailed.
Stretching east from the railroad crossing, black and white tanker cars could be seen laying on their sides Monday. By afternoon, nine of the overturned cars had been set upright.
Crews continued working late Monday night to get the derailed cars upright, Bland said.