Heavy equipment has been brought in to remove the derailed rail
cars
NEWBURGH – CSX Railroad estimates that the rail line where a freight
train derailed Tuesday afternoon will be opened by Thursday evening and
the wreckage removed over the next 48 hours.
Approximately 4,660 gallons of diesel fuel leaked from the ruptured locomotive
fuel tanks. No other locomotive tanks or cars were compromised or leaked,
and no loss of product occurred, officials said.
State Police, who are the lead agency conducting the investigation, said
the freight train struck a 135-foot articulating boom lift while traveling
on the CSX Hudson Line.
The train, consisting of three locomotives and 77 railcars, was traveling
southbound when it struck the boom lift. The operator of the lift was
approaching a private crossing when it became disabled on the tracks.
The operator was able to get off the lift before the lead locomotive struck
it, causing the train to derail.
The lead locomotive continued southbound before coming to rest on River
Road. During the derailment of the cars, uninvolved CSX tamper and regulator
maintenance machines were struck on an adjacent track causing injury to
the two operators. They were treated at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital
with one operator being admitted pending further treatment. The others
were treated and released.
In total, three locomotives and 14 rail cars derailed.
