No injuries in train derailment

Railroad personnel stand alongside two overturned cars, at the site of the 12-car derailment. More photos are here. (Mike Haskey/Ledger-Enquirer)

A string of Norfolk-Southern Railroad freight cars went off the tracks east of Columbus along highway-80, at about 6:30 P.M. Sunday.

There were no injuries, or HAZMAT dangers, according to Kimberly Larson, district spokesperson for the Department of Transportation. Larson said no motor vehicles from the nearby highways were involved in the derailment.


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The derailment took place near the red circled "A".

The cause of the derailment is under investigation, according to Rob Chapman, a spokesman from Norfolk-Southern. Chapman said the crew of the two-locomotive, 36-car train were unhurt in the incident.

Chapman said 12 cars went off the tracks, and that several of the cars that were laying on their sides spilled wheat, bagged rice and plastic pellets.

Georgia Department of Transportation investigators are at the scene, as are the Columbus Fire Department and Police Department.

Railroad workers, using heavy equipment are working on the tracks, and clearing the damaged rail cars and sections of track.

Larson estimates that the area will be cleared by late Monday.

There are traffic delays along Highway-80, and other roads in the area, according to the Georgia Navigator website: http://www.georgia-navigator.com/perl/incidents

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