Norfolk Southern suffered a major crash and derailment involving three trains near MP 240, just west of Altoona, PA late this afternoon. Initial reports indicate MofW forces were working in the area and that a bulldozer was attempting to cross the tracks. Eastbound coal train 506 on track three struck the bulldozer and derailed into eastbound intermodal train 20G operating on track two. Cars of both trains then derailed into a westbound empty hopper train on track one. The lead locomotive on train 506 reportedly caught fire. Initial reports indicate the bulldozer operator was pinned and injured. No further reports on additional injuries. Chris Toth
TRAIN DERAILMENT Norfolk Southern crews continue the cleanup of yesterday’s train derailment near Mill Run. One man remains in the hospital recovering from injuries he got when he was wedged in the wreckage. Norfolk Southern Spokesman Rudy Husband would not release the identity of the injured man although he did say his injuries were not life threatening. Husband says the man was not on the train or involved with the cleanup efforts, but was creating a backhoe along the rail when it wedged in the derailment. The victim was flown to the Altoona Hospital Trauma Center. The Norfolk Southern train was carrying truck trailers and overseas containers when it was hit by two coal trains near the Coburn Crossing at Mill Run. Several of the rail cars caught fire and also ignited a brush fire. Crews brought the fires under control last night. Russ
Major Derailment In Altoona part II -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A rock slide caused a three-train, chain collision that injured a construction worker in western Pennsylvania, railroad officials said. Norfolk Southern spokesman Rudy Husband said the accident happened Tuesday afternoon after rocks fell on a westbound coal train, derailing 13 cars into an oncoming cargo train near Logan Township, about 80 miles east of Pittsburgh. That collision sent three more cars into another eastbound train, setting it on fire and touching off a small brush fire. "All the trains were moving, there was a lot of confusion up there," Husband said. None of the derailed cars held hazardous materials and none of the trains' crew was injured. The rock slide also trapped a Norfolk Southern worker on a backhoe under rocks next to the train, Husband said. The worker was taken to an Altoona hospital where he was treated for a broken ankle and leg. Husband said officials were unsure what caused the rock slide, but workers had been removing rock from an incline behind the tracks in an attempt to reduce the likelihood of rock slides and flooding. Russ
Sorry to post 3 in a row but I found a link with eyewitness pics of the accident: http://www.wtajtv.com/pixpage.html Russ
Sheesh, what a mess. And I thought I had troubles with derailments on my double trak main on my layout.
