(The following article by Lisa Ray was posted on the Texas City Sun website on February 26.)
HITCHCOCK, Texas — A train derailment spilled plastic pellets around the railroad tracks near state Highway 6 about two miles north of Bayou Vista, near the railway junction.
Two train cars from a five-car Burlington Northern, Santa Fe Railway train apparently left the tracks around 11 p.m. Tuesday.
No one was injured in the incident. The tipped cars apparently did not obstruct traffic, or effect travel on the railway, according to Hitchcock police.
Joseph Faust, spokesperson for Burlington Northern, said train was transporting “mixed cargo,” but he was not sure what cargo spilled from the cars. Faust did say the material was not hazardous.
Hitchcock police confirmed that the pellets were non-toxic, and said they were probably packaging material.
Police said the derailment might have been caused by the weather. Police said the train was coming around a curve when the engineer reportedly saw sparks near the cars. Police said extra weight from rain-water might have put too much pressure on the tracks.
Faust said Burlington Northern is investigating the accident. The two cars had not been righted at press time. Faust said the railway company would work to clear the accident.