(The following article was posted on Tampa television station CBS 10 on July 31.)
TAMPA, Fla. — Two locomotives and two freight cars of a CSX train have derailed and one locomotive has turned on its side, blocking Himes Avenue at Busch Boulevard, fire officials said Sunday night.
The engineer was the only person aboard the train. He was not injured, said Ray Yeakley of Hillsborough County Fire/Rescue.
The lead locomotive turned over onto its side and leaked about 200 gallons of diesel fuel, said Gary Sease of CSX. Efforts to clean the spill are underway. The tank normally holds about 3,500 gallons of fuel.
Sease also said heavy equipment was being brought in to right the locomotive and clear the derailment scene.
The train was bringing empty automobile carriers to the automobile distribution center rail yard when the locomotive jumped the tracks, Sease said. . The cause of the derailment is not known.
The sheriff’s department said late Sunday night that Busch Boulevard would remain closed indefinitely between Dale Mabry Highway and Armenia Avenue for repair to the tracks and derailed cars. The work was expected to last through Monday, said spokesman J.D. Callaway.