NS Auto Racks Derail Near Alliance

A Norfolk Southern auto rack train suffered a minor derailment on Sunday afternoon on the Cleveland Line west of Alliance.

Online reports indicated that 17 auto rack cars derailed at 5:45 p.m. on Track 2, blocking grade crossings from east of Burden Road Northeast in Lexington Township to West of Walnut Avenue in Alliance.

Train traffic was able to move past the derailment site at walking speed. An eastbound NS train in the vicinity was reported to have been able to stop before reaching the derailment site.

NS pulled the cars that remained on the rails back to the yard in Alliance. All of the derailed cars were empty and remained upright.

It was the second NS derailment in northern Ohio this month.

On Oct. 9, 10 cars of an eastbound NS manifest freight derailed in Sandusky, spilling some tank cars to Columbus Avenue below a bridge.

A report posted last Friday (Oct. 14) indicated that the cleanup of the street continues and it remains closed to traffic.

The City of Sandusky said an inspection of the bridge found it to still be structurally sound, but some repair work to the bridge and a storm water lift station needs to be completed before Columbus Avenue can be reopened to pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

City officials said they are working with NS to determine the extent of the repair work that needs to be done.