(The Associated Press circulated the following article on September 26.)
WASHINGTON — A chartered Amtrak train carrying the Washington Nationals derailed early today near Wilmington, Del., but no one was injured. The team will play the Phillies later today.
“It was a very minor derailment,” Amtrak spokeswoman Tracy Connell said. “The rear wheels of the locomotive went off the track.”
The engine and three cars remained upright, and the train slowed to a stop around 1:30 a.m., Connell said. About 50 passengers on board were transferred to another train that arrived in Washington just before 5 a.m.
The Nationals were traveling home from New York after their 7-3 win over the Mets on Monday.
Nationals radio engineer Jack Hicks, who was on the train with the team, said the lights went off and the train came to a slow stop. Others said they didn’t know there was a problem.
“I didn’t feel a thing,” Nationals broadcaster Charlie Slowes told WTOP radio. “Some people say they felt a minor jolt.”
Calls to the team were not immediately returned.
It was not clear what caused the derailment, Connell said.