ELLISTON, Va. — The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the derailment of a Norfolk Southern coal train Thursday night near Elliston, the Associated Press reports.
The NTSB confirmed its investigation plans in a Twitter post this evening (July 7).
Nineteen cars derailed but stayed upright in the incident, which came after the train crew was alerted to an overheated wheel bearing by a wayside detector and stopped the train. After a visual inspection and upon receiving clearance from railroad headquarters in Atlanta, the crew attempted to move the train 8 miles to a siding where the car could be set out, but it derailed en route. No injuries were reported.
Elliston is about 20 miles west of Roanoke on NS’ Christiansburg District.
A member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineer and Trainmen says the incident raises questions about NS safety. Randy Fannon, part of the BLET”s safety task force, said the crew had been told it could move the train at track speed, but was uncomfortable doing so and was traveling at 20 mph at the time of the derailment. “We’re just lucky right now that it’s coal,” Fannon told the AP. “If it had been ethanol or LP gas or chlorine or anything like that, it could have been a totally different situation.”
Norfolk Southern spokesman Tom Crosson told the AP the derailment “should never have happened. It is unacceptable. We are working to achieve our goal of being the gold standard for safety in the railroad industry, and this incident strengthens our resolve.”
The NTSB and Federal Railroad Administration have previously announced investigations of overall NS safety practices in the wake of the Feb. 3 East Palestine derailment and other incidents earlier this year.
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