In a statement to media, a CSX representative confirmed that several cars of a train of 91 loaded and 76 empty cars derailed about 7 a.m. Saturday, May 19.
The location of the derailment, in Alexandria, is a former Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac route that passes over NS’s former Southern and Chesapeake & Ohio line which leads into NS’s Seminary Yard just to the east. Amtrak and VRE use both lines that run south of Washington.
The Washington Post quotes National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Robert Sumwalt as saying that the train was moving about 30 mph well below the 50-mph limit for the area.
The Post also reports that CSX crew members told the NTSB that the ground underneath the train felt spongy as they approached the overpass.
Cut maintenance to the bone to make the OR look good and this is what you get, plus Auto Train last month, plus how many more to come? See Bill Stephens article: CSX spends the LEAST amount % wise of any of the 5 class I’s on infrastructure.
@ARNOLD GREENLEAF, It’s nice to have a map, not so sure it’s helpful and relevant unless someone doesn’t know where Washington D.C. is. My desire is for the Trains editor find the ‘+’ button on Google Maps and zoom in, not to the level of the photo, but in this case maybe just zoom out to include Washington D.C..
Another CSX OOPSIE….seems like a lot of ’em of late…the ghost of EHH lurking about???
Kind of strange that the “Precision Scheduled Railroad” seems to be having more “incidents” lately than all the others combined. Maybe its time for a full-on investigation by the FRA into its management practices.
Much better, both a map and a satellite image of the site in question. More helpful and relevant than another railroad logo posted to fill a space. Thank you.
The C&O’s access to Alexandria was by trackage rights over Southern Railway from Orange, VA