(The following report by Leslie Cebula appeared at WTAP.com on February 1, 2009.)
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — A train carrying over 11,000 tons of coal derailed on its way to a plant in Waterford Sunday morning.
Sgt. Randy Stackpole of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said “The preliminary investigation from the CSX investigators believe that due to the debris at this crossing caused the engine to derail.”
Officials said the train was going between six and seven miles per hour close to 7 a.m. Sunday. Sgt. Stackpole said the train was on its way to the AEP plant in Waterford. That’s when a flange on the head engine wheel jumped at the cinder crossing between the Globe Metallurgical and AEP plants. Only the engine rolled onto it’s right side.
“Two engines and 83 cars loaded with coal. They guessed the approximate weight was about 11,666 tons of coal,” said Sgt. Stackpole.
The engineer reported a minor injury from the derailment but was not taken to the hospital.
“It took out one small power line and of course AEP came on scene and they cut that line,” Sgt. Stackpole said.
Sgt. Stackpole said the coal did not spill and no fuel leaked out.
“The CSX investigators stated that they have contacted a company out of Pennsylvania to come in and upright the engine. He said once the engine was back on the track it should be able to be driven back to the yard for repair.”
The sheriff’s office reports there is no evidence of suspicious activity.