Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, June 18, 1994                   TAG: 9406210122
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By BETTY HAYDEN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

TRAIN DERAILMENT CAUSE STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION

Bob Auman, manager of public relations for the railroad's Roanoke office, said engineers think the track might have moved beneath the train.

Crews worked through the night and reopened one track on Friday at 9:40 a.m. Auman said he expected the other track to reopen by 6 p.m.

Damage has been estimated at $220,000, with workers cutting up 13 coal cars for scrap and repairing 1,100 feet of track.

The 170-car eastbound train was headed for Norfolk when it derailed about 3:45 p.m. Thursday just west of Elliston.

More than 1,500 tons of coal were emptied onto the track and adjacent private property.

The accident occurred near a Roanoke River crossing, but Auman said no coal fell into the river. No one was injured.

There were only minor delays in the railroad's schedule because trains were rerouted.

Trains traveled at slower speeds and pulled fewer cars to accommodate the increased traffic, he said.