(The following article by Diana LaMattina was posted on the Syracuse Post Standard website on December 9.)
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — An empty tank car on a CSX train derailed Wednesday night in Minoa when two trains bumped each other near the railroad yard, officials said.
About 5:58 p.m., one wheel of the car, which had been used to carry Sodium Hydroxide, left the track under the pedestrian bridge connecting North Main Street to South Main Street, said Chief Pat Flannery of the Minoa Fire Department. The car did not tip over, and there was no environmental hazard because the car was empty, Flannery said.
“They (CSX workers) were maneuvering the trains from track to track. They made contact with each other and pushed the empty tanker off the rail,” said Sgt. Randy Capriotti of the Manlius Police Department.
It is unknown how many cars were in the derailed train. The other train was “well over 100 cars long,” Flannery said. CSX workers attempted to bring it back on the track by pulling it with the engine, Flannery said.
“When they tried to get it on the track it ended up damaging the car more,” Flannery said, who added he expects crews to use a crane to remove the tank car.
The derailment had no affect on the public and only minimal affect on train operations, said Bob Sullivan, spokesman for CSX. Crews would be attempting to move the derailed train as quickly as possible, Sullivan said.
“It’s a minor incident. Train derailments occur on occasion,” Sullivan said.
CSX officials will continue to investigate the cause of the derailment, Sullivan said.