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Derailed Train That Blocked Traffic Removed Friday |
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Wednesday, 27 May 2009 |
By CHRISTOPHER ROY
Express Staff Writer
BARTON — A derailed freight train that blocked the Eastern Avenue crossing Thursday night was back on track by 9 a.m. Friday.
Rob Filskov, superintendent of the Connecticut River Railroad, a
subdivision of the Washington County Railroad, the owner of the train,
said it started to sway before the car went off the rail.
Crews inspected the tracks once the train resumed its trip north to Newport from White River Junction.
The derailment, that was only one car, was caused by a couple of bad
railroad ties in a row, said David Wulfson, president of Green Mountain
Railroad.
Green Mountain Railroad is operated by the Vermont Rail System that leases the rails from the state.
John Zicconi, spokesperson for the Vermont Agency of Transportation,
the owner of the tracks, said he’s heard a couple of different things
about the derailment that needs to be investigated further.
“I’ve heard a wheel on the train broke and I also heard it could have
been due to a warped track condition,” he said. He didn’t have
definitive answer.”
Personnel from Vermont Rail Systems repaired any problems with the rails, he said.
“Any time something like this happens, you put in new ties along with a new rail,” said Zicconi.
Wulfson decline to name the engineer who was operating the train because the crew did nothing wrong, he said.
Filskov said the train, that had between 12 and 14 cars, had been hauling things like railroad ties and paper.
“Otherwise I don’t know what was in the train,” he said but no hazardous materials were on board.
Filskov said the train was traveling 25 miles per hour, it’s typical speed. Nobody was injured in the derailment.
Barton Fire Chief Paul Sicard said Sunday that his department was
concerned about the train blocking the road because it is the only way
for big fire trucks to get to Route 16 east toward Westmore.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 01 June 2009 )
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