SELLERS, S.C. — Seventeen cars of a CSX train derailed early today (Saturday, Feb. 17) in South Carolina’s Marion County, blocking a highway and disrupting Amtrak operations.
WBTW-TV reports the derailment occurred about 5 a.m., blocking a portion of U.S. Route 301, which will remain closed at least through the weekend, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
CSX spokeswoman Sheriee Bowman told the station in an email that the derailed cars included six carrying wood chips and 11 that were empty. No injuries resulted.
The Amtrak Alerts feed on social media site X reports that the northbound Silver Meteor which departed Miami this morning will terminate in Jacksonville, Fla.., while the southbound train that was scheduled to depart New York this afternoon will instead originate in Jacksonville on Sunday. Also, today’s Auto Train was cancelled in both directions.
Sellers, population 147, is on CSX’s South End Subdivision, about 15 miles north of Florence, S.C.
I am curious as to why these trains could not have turned at Florence, SC?
Isn’t Florence an AMTRAK crew base?
I am curious as to why these trains could not be re-routed over the S line, the route of the Silver Star.
Not enough Amtrak crews qualified on “S” line. That is Amtrak’s fault. Also, only certain Amtrak engineers qualified to run Auto Train. Maybe CSX running all freight over the “S” line to / from Hamlet connection to “A” line. That would leave no pilots for Amtrak.