13 Cars Derail On CSX Train Near Orono, Maine

Updated as of the evening of Monday, August 10th-From the Orono Fire Department:

"Many different departments and agencies have been working diligently to clean up the incident. As of this afternoon, crews on site had 3 cars remaining to remove. CSX and the Crane Master have decided to work 24 hours to get the track cleared and rebuilt. They will be releasing the pressure in one of the remaining CO2 cars to be able to remove it safely. That release is being done in a safe and controlled environment, with no threat to the public or the environment. The release is being overseen by DEP, EPA, and on-site Hazardous Response Personnel. The cause is also being investigated and will continue after the cars have been removed and the scene made safe.
Findings will not be released for some time to allow for a complete investigation. CSX is hoping to have the tracks replaced and operational by mid-week. More updates will be posted once they are released."

Local EMS officials say that quick work by first responders and railway workers, despite sticky weather conditions, kept a train derailment over the weekend from becoming a potentially larger issue.

According to the Orono Fire Department, just after 4 PM Saturday, emergency dispatchers received word that several train cars had come off the train tracks in the area between the Penobscot Valley Country Club at 366 Main Street in Orono and the town of Veazie.

It was unknown, at first, exactly where along the railway the derailment had occurred. Emergency crews got straight to work locating the front train, which was about 1.2 miles north of where the railroad crossing is on Main Street in Veazie.

a close up of a train track with no cars on it — Photo by Gunnar Ridderström on Unsplash

CSX Transportation, one of North America's leading suppliers of rail-based freight transportation, owns the train that was running at the time.

The Jacksonville, Florida-based company says its train network runs about 20,000 route miles through 26 states, D.C., and Ontario, Canada.

Orono Fire says several agencies, including Orono Police, Veazie Fire and Police, and Milford Fire Department, set up a command post at the Penobscot Valley Country Club. The Department of Environmental Protection and the Maine Forest Service Rangers and the Maine Emergency Management Agency were brought in, along with the Penobscot EMA, who provided drone aerial views of the area.

A blurry photo of a train going by — Photo by Greg Bulla on Unsplash

"CSX employees on scene reported 32 cars in the train, 13 cars derailed - no leaks, spills or hazard to the public. Crews were able to verify no release with DEP and no impact to the Penobscot River. DEP will be working with CSX on the cleanup in the next few days. The rail line will remain closed for the foreseeable future until the tracks are repaired and inspected."

Officials say Saturday's hot, humid conditions, along with the remote location where the derailment took place, created challenges for folks working on the derailment location and cleanup.

Thankfully, no first responders or CSX personnel were injured in the efforts.

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Director of Media Relations for CSX, Austin Staton, says they are hoping to get the rail back up and running quickly.

"CSX crews are on scene and working as safely and expeditiously as possible to restore the site. The final six railcars are expected to be cleared today, with track repairs beginning shortly after. Crews are targeting track restoration later this week."

This is not the first time CSX train cars have derailed on Maine railways. Several CSX train cars jumped the track in Newport near a campground one year ago this month.