(The following article by Bob Mayes was posted on the Palatka Daily News website on November 3.)
PALATKA, Fla. — An Amtrak train bound for Jacksonville, Palatka and ultimately New York City was delayed for more than three hours when a fuel leak caused a fire in the engine Wednesday afternoon near Crescent City.
Lt. Keith Fleetwood, EMS south end supervisor, said the call came in at 2:13 and responders were on the scene by 2:18.
There were no injuries, but two engineers on the Silver Meteor — Amtrak train No. 98 — were evaluated for possible smoke inhalation, Fleetwood said. Neither required further medical treatment, he said.
“Some flames were visible coming from the engine when we arrived and it took about 30 minutes to get it under control,” Fleetwood said. “It took several hours for Amtrak to get a second engine in from Sanford.”
The fire occurred near County Road 308 at Streamline Road. It was along the same track, but about four miles north of where an Amtrak train derailed in April 2002, killing four passengers and injuring several others.
Fleetwood said the Silver Meteor was carrying 63 passengers and 17 crew members. No one was evacuated but the passengers were relocated to the last two or three cars, well out of harm’s way.
Georgetown and Pomona Park volunteer fire departments provided several gallons of water and ice for the passengers, who did not disembark. The train lost all power.
Responding to the call were Station 3 (Crescent City), Station 10 (Pomona Park), Station 9 (Georgetown) and Rescue 6 (Crescent City), along with Fleetwood.
An automated voice at Amtrak reported that the Silver Meteor arrived in Jacksonville at 7:05 p.m. — three hours and 14 minutes late.
The Silver Meteor normally runs from Miami to New York City, but has been running from Orlando since Hurricane Wilma. It is scheduled to return to service in Miami at the beginning of next week.