(The following story was published in the January 7 online issue of the Scranton Times Tribune.)
SCRANTON, Pa. — No injuries were reported in a train derailment of 29 freight cars at 2:05 a.m. Monday near Heller’s Orchard, Wapwallopen about 150 yards from Route 239.
The Canadian Pacific freight train consisting of 111 cars with three locomotives was northbound from Harrisburg to Binghamton, N.Y. when the derailment of cars 68 to 97 occurred, said Michel Spenard, spokesperson for the Canadian Pacific Railroad.
Twenty-eight of the freight cars were loaded with clay slurry or powdered clay used in the production of newsprint or paper products. No hazardous material was aboard the cars. Forty-three cars were empty, railroad officials said.
Four wrecking crews were enroute to the site early Monday to repair 1,200 feet of track damaged in the mishap, Spenard said. The work is expected to be completed late Wednesday. Eight trains travel the line daily, rail officials noted. Cause of the derailment is under investigation.
Last Nov. 15, approximately 500 people were evacuated from their homes in Laflin at 11 p.m. when 13 train cars, two of which were carrying 150,000 pounds of propane each, derailed earlier that evening.
The 90-car Canadian Pacific freight went off the track around 7:30 p.m. in Laflin between Market and Conyngham streets.
A train derailment also occurred May 14, 2002, in Newport Township involving the Canadian Pacific Railroad.
The railroad tracks washed out from a swollen stream causing three locomotives and seven freight cars to leave the track along the Susquehanna River.
Mike Green, the engineer, and Ed Mooney, the conductor, were trapped for nearly eight hours inside the cab of the lead locomotive which was buried in mud and wreckage.
Approximately 6,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilled into the river.