Train Derails At Burket
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
BURKET -ÊTrain traffic is reduced and moving slowly through Burket after a derailment caused significant damage to railroad tracks Tuesday evening.
Around 8:16 p.m. Tuesday, a bulk train car lost its rear wheel assembly, including the four back wheels and axles, on the railroad tracks at Burket. The back of the train car, which sustained significant damage, dragged, causing damage to the rails and ties of the track for at least a half mile.
The car, which previously carried calcium powder, was empty at the time of the derailment.
"I don't know why it derailed, it is a rare failure," said Burket Fire Chief Kevin McSherry. "We are very lucky it was the rear set of wheels that came off."
When the wheels came off the car, the train came apart, but the car did not turn over. The wheels flew off to the side, barely missing Powell's Tire Co. on Walnut Street next to the tracks.
"It very well could have gone through the wall of the business," said McSherry.
Had the front wheels come off, McSherry said, the car would have overturned and caused a "major derailment."
The derailment obstructed the entire track in Burket along with several hundred feet east of the town. Damage is still being repaired. McSherry said, around 45 trains travel the tracks on a normal day. [[In-content Ad]]
BURKET -ÊTrain traffic is reduced and moving slowly through Burket after a derailment caused significant damage to railroad tracks Tuesday evening.
Around 8:16 p.m. Tuesday, a bulk train car lost its rear wheel assembly, including the four back wheels and axles, on the railroad tracks at Burket. The back of the train car, which sustained significant damage, dragged, causing damage to the rails and ties of the track for at least a half mile.
The car, which previously carried calcium powder, was empty at the time of the derailment.
"I don't know why it derailed, it is a rare failure," said Burket Fire Chief Kevin McSherry. "We are very lucky it was the rear set of wheels that came off."
When the wheels came off the car, the train came apart, but the car did not turn over. The wheels flew off to the side, barely missing Powell's Tire Co. on Walnut Street next to the tracks.
"It very well could have gone through the wall of the business," said McSherry.
Had the front wheels come off, McSherry said, the car would have overturned and caused a "major derailment."
The derailment obstructed the entire track in Burket along with several hundred feet east of the town. Damage is still being repaired. McSherry said, around 45 trains travel the tracks on a normal day. [[In-content Ad]]