(The Henderson Gleaner posted the following story by Beth Smith on its website on July 18.)
HENDERSON, Ky. — Following a meeting with CSX representatives Thursday, local officials said they feel confident the company will work to correct what caused three derailments in Henderson the last three months.
In each situation, the derailed cars were carrying hazardous chemicals to Brenntag Mid-South Inc. There were no leaks, but in the most recent derailment on July 9, several homes were evacuated overnight as the cars were righted.
“We know they know what our concerns are. And we know they are addressing them,” said Larry Koerber, director of the local Emergency Management Agency. “They (CSX) were very cooperative.”
“There was good communication,” he said. “That was the purpose of the meeting. Concerns were presented and then addressed by CSX. They offered remedies, what they’re doing and what has been done since derailments.”
CSX Spokesman Gary Sease said the company representatives were satisfied with the meeting and are committed to getting the problems fixed.
CSX reported in Thursday’s meeting that preliminary investigations into the April 15 and July 9 derailments — which occurred at the rail crossing on South Green Street near Gibbs Die Casting — show the cause as a faulty switch, Koerber said.
A switch is a mechanism in the track that diverts trains from one track to another, Koerber said, “like an off ramp.”
In the July 9 derailment, he said, a piece of the switch gear broke off, causing the cars to ride up on a rail and then turn over.
It was the same switch that sparked the derailment on April 15, Koerber said. In that incident, the cars did not turn over.
“The first time, they identified the problem and repaired it,” he said.
“And in the second event there was the same switch, same type of problem…a piece broke off,” he said, adding that it wasn’t the same piece that broke off the first time.
For now, the switch has been placed in a position which won’t allow trains to travel onto a side track, Koerber said.
All customers will still be serviced, he said, but trains will slightly alter their routes.
Sease said it is uncertain when the switch will be replaced.
As for the derailment on June 25 at the crossing on Clay Street, CSX preliminary reports show the cause as human error, Koerber said. “A switch wasn’t completely thrown and latched and that caused the (train cars) to come off the tracks.”
In addition to replacing the switch, CSX officials said there will be some retraining of personnel and more frequent checks of the side tracks.
Sease said CSX also will offer training to hazardous material response teams. This will assist the responders in knowing, “what we’re carrying and what the response should be,” Sease said.
David Garner, vice-president of operations for Brenntag, said CSX officials seemed genuinely concerned about the derailments.
“They’ve already made some changes and they’re going to get back with us with other changes after the investigation is complete,” Garner said.
“I’m very confident they will follow through,” he said.
Mayor Henry Lackey said the meeting was “good and positive.”
Lackey said he told CSX representatives that if they wanted to show gratitude to Henderson residents for being “patient” through the three derailments, then the company would paint the bridge on Second Street and the overpasses on Water, Main, Elm and Green streets.
Lackey said although CSX didn’t automatically agree to the proposal, “they didn’t say no.”
Henderson Fire Chief Terry Lewis said CSX provided good information about the derailments.
“They’ve obviously had mechanical problems and are working to fix them,” he said. “I came away with the feeling that they are trying to correct the problem and that’s all we can ask.”