The wheels of a railroad car rest on the trap rock of the rail bed at the John S. Lane and Son railroad siding after five cars of a 49-car train, each loaded with 100 tons of trap rock, derailed while it was being assembled yesterday afternoon. No injuries were reported and the accident did not create a hazard for the public. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
WESTFIELD – Five railroad cars derailed yesterday afternoon in Westfield but, unlike recent derailments elsewhere, no injuries were reported and there was no danger to the public.
City police and firefighters responded to the John S. Lane and Son railroad siding parallel to Springfield Road where a CSX Transportation train was being made up of hopper cars filled with trap rock but found little to do.
Deputy Fire Chief Patrick Egloff reports that a two engine train was being made up of cars which were loaded with 100 tons of trap rock each.
After about 40 cars were loaded, “something happened” he said, and five cars slid off the rails as they were pulled forward.
The cars all stayed upright and attached.
Egloff said that there was never a danger to the public in the accident.
“Essentially this is a CSX problem,” he said. “It is not a public safety hazard” since the trap rock cargo is not volatile.
Quarry workers at the siding declined comment beyond pointing out that the accident did not present an emergency, did not threaten the public and occurred on private property before they asked the reporter to leave the company’s property.
A CSX worker referred inquiries to corporate headquarters.
A company spokesman later confirmed that no injuries resulted from the 2:32 p.m. mishap and said that since the accident happened on an industrial siding and not on a main line it will not affect operations.
He said that although getting the cars back on the track “is not an easy task” he said “our folks have tools and a good process for the task” and he expects the track “will be back in operation by the morning.”
