THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, July 22, 1996 TAG: 9607220067
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: ALEXANDRIA LENGTH: 43 lines
A derailment led to the collision of two CSX trains Sunday in a rail yard, causing a pileup of about 25 cars and a slow acid spill that was contained.
Fluoroscheleic acid initially was spilling at a rate of two to three gallons an hour from one of the cars, which was fully loaded with the corrosive but nonflammable chemical, said Jane Malik, a spokeswoman with the Alexandria Fire Department.
The chemical, which was contained about 4 1/2 hours after the 12:09 p.m. accident, is used for water fluorination and electropolishing metals, Malik said. Officials feared the chemical could cause breathing problems if its presence became widespread.
Another derailed car was carrying a resin that could be flammable if exposed. But Malik said there appeared to be no leak from that car.
No one was injured in the crash that occurred on the main line off South Quaker Street. But one firefighter broke an ankle jumping from one car to another, authorities said.
Kathy Burns, a spokeswoman for CSX Transportation, said the accident involved one train headed from Hamlet, N.C., to Philadelphia and one en route from Baltimore to Waycross, Ga.
Malik said at least 20 of the derailed cars were heavily damaged.
Emergency crews expected to remain on the scene overnight to ensure that no hazardous situation occurred as the cars were untangled.
The accident caused delays for some Amtrak trains. One northbound train was held at Lorton, Va., while two others were detained at Richmond until the tracks were cleared.
Alexandria Deputy Fire Chief Michael Conner said damage to the tracks could be discovered after the wrecked cars are moved, possibly affecting Monday morning commuter rail traffic.
``I'm not very optimistic that they will get to use their track tomorrow,'' he said.
The Virginia Rail Expressway canceled all of its train service for this morning, and Amtrak was replacing some of its service with buses.
The cause of the accident was under investigation. by CNB