(The following story by Cindy Clayton appeared on The Virginian-Pilot website on March 26, 2010.)
CHESAPEAKE, Va. — A locomotive that derailed on a train trestle over the Intracoastal Waterway this morning is hanging over the edge and leaking diesel fuel into the waterway.
The incident happened around 5 a.m. on the trestle near the Centerville area of the city, said Capt. Sam Gulisano, Chesapeake Fire Department spokesman.
No injuries were reported and the engineer was out of the locomotive and was safe, Gulisano said.
He did not know how much fuel had spilled into the water, but the locomotive usually carries 1,500 to 2,000 gallons of diesel, Gulisano said.
The train was not carrying cargo, he added.
Firefighters were on the scene and working to contain the leak.
The waterway is closed in that area, according to the Coast Guard. The agency was sending experts to the scene.