Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 17, 1994 TAG: 9407130051
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BETTY HAYDEN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELLISTON LENGTH: Short
Bob Auman, manager of public relations for the Roanoke office, said crews would work through the night to clean up the debris and repair the damaged section of track.
The train, which was running eastbound from Bluefield, W.Va., derailed about 3:45 p.m. just west of Elliston. No one was injured.
The accident occurred near a Roanoke River crossing, but Auman said no coal fell into the river.
The cause of the derailment is still under investigation.
Auman said a car near the front of the train had a bent wheel, which may have had something to do with the 13 cars behind it turning over. The wheels of the final two cars came off the track, but the cars stayed upright.
Auman said Donohue Brothers, an outside contractor from Barbersville, W.Va., was called to move the few salvageable cars and clear the other cars for scrap metal. The estimated cost of the cleanup has not been determined, he said.
Auman said all traffic will be transferred to a parallel track previously owned by Virginian Railroad.
by CNB