(Indiana television station WTVW posted the following story by Melinda Roeder on its website on March 10.)
HAZELTON, Ind. — Some neighbors in Gibson County say the railroad tracks near their home aren’t safe and they want CSX to fix the problem. But so far, nothing has been done. They say it’s another case of the little guys versus a big corporation.
The railroad tracks run along Laura Carpenter’s backyard — just 60 feet from her house. The tracks scare her because the railroad bed itself is eroding. With every train that passes, chunks of dirt and rocks slide off. It’s even worse when it rains. That has the whole neighborhood worried a train could derail. “If it rains and we get any significant amount of rain, we’ve already got a suitcase packed and we’re planning on going to a hotel.”
The problem started last year when CSX Railroad loosened the tracks to install a new line. “Right after that, like a day or 2 we got all that hard rain and when the hard rain came, the ground just started going.”
And it just keeps getting worse. Neighbors say their complaints to CSX e been ignored. Charles Duglas is in charge of the township’s road department. He’s also tried to contact the company. “It’s just a circus whenever you call. They say well you gotta call this person, call that person.
“Frank Tolbert lives on the same line. He says damaged tracks made a mess of his yard, too. They created a large hole he had to fill. “I hauled rocks and I hauled sandbags and I hauled everything I could think of.”
Neighbors say at least 20 trains travel the tracks everyday – sometimes at high speeds. They’re afraid that could end in disaster, if nothing is done.A railroad inspector came out to look at the bed this weekend. A CSX spokesman from Jacksonville, Florida tells Fox 7 the inspection showed no safety problems. But another crew that came out Monday and told neighbors they will recommend some repairs. No word on when those might happen.