(The Philadelphia Inquirer posted the following story on its website on February 4.)
PHILADELPHIA — Shots were fired yesterday afternoon at a CSX freight train as it made its way along a wooded area of track in Middletown Township, Bucks County, according to police and a CSX spokesman.
The conductor, whose name was not released, was not hurt, and the half-mile-long train was not damaged, Sgt. John Michniewicz said. A search of the area between Route 213 and Woodbourne Road turned up no gunman or weapon, Michniewicz said.
CSX spokesman Dan Murphy said the train was picking up and dropping off cars in the area about 4:30 p.m. when the conductor heard gunshots and the sound of something “bouncing off the cars of the train.” The conductor, who did not see where the shots were coming from, radioed the CSX dispatch center, which in turn called police, Murphy said.