Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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  • A CSX coal train derailed while traveling through the community of Raleigh Thursday, according to a spokesman for CSX. Rick Barbero

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  • Rick Barbero

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August 3, 2012

CSX coal train derails in Raleigh County

By Kara Van Pelt For the Daily Telegraph

BECKLEY — Four Raleigh County roadways were blocked Thursday after a CSX coal train derailed while traveling through the community of Raleigh, according to a spokesman for CSX.

The call came into the Raleigh County EOC at approximately 2:11 p.m., reporting five to six cars that had jumped the track and an additional three to four cars ended up in a nearby creek, dispatchers said; however, CSX spokesman Gary Sease said a total of six cars derailed, adding his report indicated all six cars ended up in Piney Creek.

Burmeister Avenue, by the Raleigh Post Office, Raleigh Ridge Road, High Hill Loop and Shriver Avenue were all affected, and the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched to the scene to direct traffic and assist in crowd control, dispatchers said.

No injuries were reported in the accident; however, the EPA was contacted due to coal from the train spilling into the creek.

Beaver Fire Department also responded to the accident to assist in cleanup efforts and as of 7 p.m., crews from CSX were still working to clear the train cars from the scene.

Sease said the train, which had two locomotives on both ends, was traveling from Beckley to Quinnimont and was carrying 75 loads of coal.

An investigation is being conducted to determine what caused the derailment, Sease said; however, the company’s immediate focus is on cleanup efforts in order to re-open the impacted roadways as quickly as possible.

“The work is just beginning,” Sease explained. “Cleanup efforts will consist of retrieving the rail cars, retrieving the coal from the creek and repairing the tracks, and it is too early to tell at this point how long that will take.”

Sease added that crews would remain on the scene around the clock to ensure an expedient remediation.

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