(The Associated Press circulated the following story on September 7.)
ABERDEEN, N.C. — A northbound CSX train derailed early Tuesday, leaving rail cars piled up in the center of Aberdeen’s historic business district, missing a historic depot by less than 30 feet.
There were no injuries.
The train’s five engines jumped the tracks around 6:15 a.m., plowing through gravel track bed and wooden ties. Several of the cars that followed were crushed by the weight behind them.
Of the 17 cars that derailed, seven were empty and 10 were loaded with cement and limestone, a CSX official said.
Town Manager Bill Zell said the train, which was headed to Raleigh, was thrown by a switch left open by an earlier, southbound train.
CSX spokesman Gary Sease said the company was investigating the cause of the wreck.
“It seemed to miss everything but all the shrubbery,” said Ed Lewis, president of the Aberdeen and Rockfish Railroad Co., whose engine was helping tow the first CSX locomotive later in the day.