Coal train derailment deemed 'minor'
WINONA — The derailment of a National Coal Company train near here was deemed “minor” by a company spokesperson Monday, with no injuries and a minimal loss of equipment.
The derailment occurred early Friday evening on National Coal’s railroad line from Oneida to Devonia — formerly the Tennessee Railroad — across New River from the 200 block of Bull Creek Road, approximately four miles south of Winona.
Several cars of a northbound train loaded with coal derailed shortly after 5 p.m. A nearby resident phoned 911 to alert authorities after witnessing the derailed train. The initial dispatch drew a response from a number of emergency agencies — including the Scott County Sheriff’s Department, Scott County EMS, Rescue Squad and East 63 Volunteer Fire Department — before it was determined that the derailment involved a coal transport train and not an excursion train owned by New River Scenic Railway, which makes Friday through Sunday runs on the same railroad line.
The cause of the derailment was not clear. The train’s double engines were pulling more than 20 cars, of which six cars derailed.
National Coal Director of Communication Christine Pietrila said Monday that the derailment was considered “relatively minor,” adding that there were no injuries and that no environmental damage was caused by the accident.
Clean-up crews and equipment from R.J. Corman, the Nicholasville, Ky.-based operator of the railroad, responded to the scene of the accident Friday evening, and remained on the scene for much of the weekend as clean-up efforts were completed.