Norfolk Southern Freight Train Derailed Due to High Winds
High winds are being blamed for the derailment of a Norfolk Southern freight train on the Rockville Bridge in Pennsylvania, Dec. 27, 2010. The derailment sent two shipping containers into the Susquehanna River, according to reports.
The containers were empty and did not pose an environmental risk, according to John Repetz, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection spokesman. When a railroad accident occurs as a result of harsh weather conditions, it falls on the railroad company to take care of the problem.
According to a Norfolk Southern operations manual available online, operators should reduce speed when faced with severe weather conditions such as dense fog, high water or storm. A high-wind advisory was reportedly issued by the National Weather Service earlier that day.
The Rockville Bridge runs between Marysville and Harrisburg. Service was interrupted on some Amtrak passenger trains after the accident while workers cleared the bridge. The bridge was reopened the next day at 11 a.m.
No injuries were reported.
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