Area Crash One Of Many For Norfolk Southern

The train crash that left a toxic spill in its wake here last Friday was not a new experience for hauling behemoth Norfolk Southern Railway.

In fact, Norfolk Southern Railway trains have been involved in at least six other similar crashes, one earlier this week in Hershey, in the past year.

Last Friday it happened here. A Norfolk Southern train derailed just outside of Cameron County, spilling over 40,000 gallons of sodium hydroxide into a tributary of Portage Creek. An environmental disaster ensued (see related story this page).

Then, on Thursday of this week, yet another Norfolk Southern Train derailed in Derry Township, near Hershey, this one carrying chlorine and potassium hydroxide. Fourteen families were forced to evacuate their homes and several businesses were evacuated.

While that situation had not yet been resolved at press time Friday, it is believed that the tanks carrying the chemicals were completely intact and not leaking.

On May 3 in Westmoreland County, 29 cars from a westbound Norfolk Southern Train went off the tracks at Saddler's crossing, along Old Greengate Mall Road in Hempfield Township.

Also in May, a Norfolk Southern (NS) freight train derailed in Mingo County, West Virginia.

The 86th car of the 99-car train jumped the track taking six other cars with it.

Also in April, in Plains Township, Luzerne County, 12 Norfolk Southern boxcars jumped track.

No one was injured when the 55-car train derailed. The train was carrying hazardous material, but county officials and the state Department of Environmental Protection found none. Only lumber and paper products had spilled.

Late in 2005, a Norfolk Southen train carrying chlorine gas hit a parked train in South Carolina, leaving eight people dead and injuring at least 240 others.

All the deaths were the result of chlorine fume inhalation, except for the engineer of the moving train, who died in the railroad crash. Five of the deceased were inside the Avondale Mill, the textile plant where the railroad crash happened.

Three of the 42 cars involved in the railroad crash were carrying chlorine.