Train derailment lands two rail cars in the Hoosic River
RENSSEALAER COUNTY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Part of Route 67 just outside of Valley Falls is shut down for a train that derailed Wednesday night. Rensselaer County officials originally reported a Norfolk Southern train had derailed. NEWS10 has learned it was a Berkshire & Eastern train. They say 10 of the 94-car train came off the tracks around 10 p.m. Two cars landed in the Hoosic River.
“I heard this really bizarre sound, like what was that?” said local resident Janet Stark. Stark was doing her dishes at the time of the derailment. “And then a few seconds I heard sirens. And a few minutes after that a friend of mine who lives right across the road from where the train derailed texted me, and said a train went off the track.”
Officials say this is a main line and hope to have it up and running as soon as possible.
“We got 12 semis already up here. We're going to bring more up here. We're going to get these up righted. They got to try to get all the pallets out of the one. They're going to get out in a backpack that out they got to get the oil out of the other tanker that's here. It's going to take some time to empty those two cars,” said Rensselaer County Director of Public Safety Jay Wilson.
One car was said to be carrying small plastic beads, and they spilled into the river. One car is said have leaked a type of vegetable oil called rapeseed oil.
New York Department of Environmental Conservation says the leak of the vegetable oil was stopped overnight. As pellets and vegetable oil are both detected in the river, DEC will oversee a comprehensive cleanup of these and any other contaminants to ensure full protection of public health and the environment.
Further down the river, cleanup crews could be seen trying to corral some of the spilled plastics. Stark says she’s thankful that the crash wasn’t worse. “Better than something toxic because we were all worried, this area about having to evacuate,” said Stark.
Officials say there are no injuries to report, and the incident remains under investigation. NEWS10 will be on scene as the cleanup continues. In the meantime, drivers are urged to avoid this area.