(The following story by Michael A. Sawyers appeared on the Cumberland Times-News website on September 30.)
CUMBERLAND, Md. — Residents of several South End streets believed all along that the oil they found splattered on their cars, porch furniture and homes Sunday morning came from a locomotive on the tracks running alongside Industrial Boulevard.
John Bone, who lives with his family on Springdale Street, said the black spots covered just about everything on and around his house, but were most obvious on his white Chevrolet Cavalier.
“When I got home from work Saturday night everything was fine, but when we left to go to church Sunday morning you could see the oil on everything.”
A Cumberland Police Department supervisor said the police cruiser, personal automobile and home of a city officer who lives on Cedar Street was also beneath what could be described as a rainfall of oil droplets.
“He came in here to work and was trying to scrub the oil off the cruiser,” the supervisor said Monday. Cumberland police had not been brought into the incident in an official capacity.
Efforts by the Times-News to reach a CSX spokesman were finally successful Tuesday afternoon. Bob Sullivan confirmed that the problem began with a locomotive that had been hauled to Cumberland for repairs.
“Heavy smoke came out of the exhaust and resulted in the problem that residents observed and some of our employees experienced,” Sullivan said. “The issue with the locomotive has been resolved and we are fully prepared to work with residents who were affected by the incident.”
Sullivan said residents whose property was struck by the droplets should call toll-free (877) TELLCSX (835-5279) to begin the process.
Peggy Garver said she went to church on Arch Street on Sunday morning and when she returned to the parking lot after services all the vehicles were covered.
“It was a disgusting mess,” Garver said, wondering out loud if the spray was harmful to human health and just what could be done to remove it from personal items.
“We understand the railroad is having a tough time getting it off their locomotive, even with strong detergents,” she said.