Derailment Affects Operations at West Mill

KINGS PORT DAILY FREEMAN


VOL. XCVII NO.34  OCTOBER 15, 1971


EXPLOSION CAUSES DANGER ZONE

Loss of a wheel-bearing and housing on a freight car caused twenty eight cars to be derailed and a tank car containing Butatiene Inhibite to burst into flames last night on the Penn Central railroad tracks five miles north  of West Mill.  The intense heat from the explosion and the fear that the underground natural gas line which parallels the tracks at that point might be threatened caused firemen to declare a "danger zone"  for a radius of one mile.

Concern was also expressed about a hopper of ammonium nitrate located just below the site of the crash.   Several homes in the vicinity were evacuated with families either going to the houses of friends or spending the night at the West Mill Dutch Reformed Church Hall where emergency quarters were set up.

Area fire companies were summoned to assist West Mill firemen.  Approximately 150 VOLS were on the scene as twenty four pieces of equipment were used from ten companies.   Due to the lack of fire hydrants water had to be drawn from a point some distance away. While water couldn't extinguish the flames which shot from 200-300 feet in the air the steady stream of water helped cool the tanker to prevent further explosions.   Several chemicals used proved to be unsuccessful.


The derailment occurred shortly before 11:00 PM.  Firemen worked in shifts through the night and continue today.  

Early this morning 50 cars continued to Selkirk.  Those at the rear still on the tracks were removed to West Mill.

Rail traffic in the area is expected to be disrupted for several days.


Congestion At West Mill

Complications resulting from derailment north of West Mill require movement of some cars by car float.


The serious derailment north of West Mill that occurred last night has closed the line to Selkirk for at least three days.   Some cars from the rear of the train (behind the derailment point) have been returned to West Mill  That and other traffic are filling the yard to near capacity.


Several of the cars returned to West Mill were included in a block for Terminal Yard that was to be forwarded from Selkirk.  These consist of eight empty covered hoppers from grain service. 



In order to alleviate congestion, West Mill is forwarding the cars by car float to Port Owen where they can be transferred southbound to Terminal Yard.  Other car movements due at Terminal Yard from West Mill are expected to be dispatched via Selkirk per usual on Wednesday or Thursday depending on the clean up and repairs related to the derailment.

Slowly loading the float

The car float is loaded and due to shove off with the tug Robert H. at 17:00 hours for Port Owen.  Cars will be transferred from there to Terminal Yard.

Route to Selkirk reopens.

After extensive clean up of hazardous materials, removal of derailed cars,  and repair and inspection of track, the line between West Mill and Selkirk is now open.


Work train headed by GP7 #5689, still in NYC livery, pulls two damaged cars back to West Mill.   These are the last pieces of equipment to be removed from the wreck site.

The line now clear, the first northbound movement is this pair of B&O F units that has been holding at West Mill since the derailment.

Yard operations are returning back to normal as SD9 #6922 begins assembling Train WMV-1 with cars for Terminal Yard.

WMV-1 is the first train north of West Mill since the derailment last weekend.  Powered by FP7 #4362   and F7A #1805...

 

...cars for Terminal Yard include P&LE 40 ft boxcar #35892, empty for American Hardware requesting hardware for Peerless Appliance

PC gondola #288673 empty requesting pipe from Gervais Pipe and Fittings for the Hudson Valley Ag. Coop 

Two KP&W coil cars loaded with steel coils from KP Steel for Ford 

86' auto parts car #67086 loaded with parts from ACME Auto Parts, also for Ford

TPFX #5510 and PC #160502, empty for Universal Milling requesting doors and frames for GERN Industries' continued interior remodeling 

PC# 104478 loaded with steel drums for Drywell Ink and PC# 46150, empty requesting Beer from Heileman Brewery for Reynolds Beverage Distributors 

NYC #80775, empty request for burlap bags from Moore & Co. for Empire Grain

And KP&W #2140 and MCRR #350523, both gons loaded with telephone poles from Bell Pole for New York State DOT Region 10 highway project

   

Caboose #23348 brings up the rear as WMV-1 leaves town for Selkirk.