HARMAR TOWNSHIP, Pa. — An oil spill from a Norfolk Southern derailment on Thursday has led to the closure of the nearby Allegheny River to boating for the Memorial Day weekend as well as an ongoing road closure.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Thursday afternoon’s derailment in Harmar Township, on the northwestern edge of Pittsburgh, derailed 17 cars, nine of which ended up in Deer Creek about 100 yards from the Allegheny River.
Norfolk Southern says two locomotives also derailed, and that the train consist included a total of four locomotives, 109 loaded cars, and 116 empties. The railroad says two leaking cars of petroleum distillate were initially secured; a leak from a third car was discovered this morning and is now being addressed.
Floating booms have been deployed in the creek to prevent the spread of the leaking fluid, while the U.S. Coast Guard closed the river to boat traffic until the derailed cars are cleared from the water.
Also closed is Freeport Road adjacent to the accident scene.
The derailment occurred about 3:15 p.m. when the NS train struck a dump truck carrying stone at a grade crossing for a sewage plant [see “Norfolk Southern train derails …,” Trains News Wire, May 26, 2022]. Two train crew members and the driver of the truck were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. NS says its crew members have been released from the hospital.
The derailment also damaged the railroad bridge across the creek and temporarily disrupted water service in Harmar, although that was restored after about two hours.
A county official said the complete cleanup could take weeks.
— Updated at 9:10 a.m. with additional information from Norfolk Southern, including correction of the material involved in the leak.
Sounds like the only qualification a truck driver needs is to pass drug test. Try as best I can to stay away from these rigs on highway. Drivers not safe.
A few days ago we received a delivery to our dock. Dock has 5 slots. Slots 2 and 5 were occupied with trailers. Another tractor trailer arrived. Driver took over 20 minutes to back into slot 4. After dropping off load, he ran over a curb and a couple of safety cones when leaving our yard.
What is it with trucks at Norfolk Southern grade crossings in PA this week? (two separate derailments).
It sounds like there needs to be extensive series truck driver safety training ….
225 cars is 100 cars too many. Even though this derailment was caused by hitting a dump truck, these super long trains should be outlawed.
4 units and maybe 2 online. Gotta save fuel, ya know.
Harder is NE of Pittsburgh
Harmer
Time to require all trucking companies to have a $10M grade crossing insurance policy. The insurance company will weed out some of the bad drivers by not insuring the company till driver is fired..
Another derailment caused by a truck on the tracks.
First time I heard of the truck, It was always train derailment !