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Official: Rail flex likely cause of accident

Staff graphic

Photos: Train derails on broken track

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A U.S. Rail train derailed across B Street in Hamilton near the intersection of Gordon Ave. The train was on its way to deliver pulp to SMART Papers Thursday Dec. 3, 2009.

Staff photo by Greg Lynch A U.S. Rail train derailed across B Street in Hamilton near the intersection of Gordon Ave. The train was on its way to deliver pulp to SMART Papers Thursday Dec. 3, 2009.

No one injured as train derails, blocking street for hours

By Richard Wilson, Staff Writer Updated 1:42 AM Friday, December 4, 2009

HAMILTON — Weather and poor railroad track maintenance may be to blame for a train derailment that shut down North B Street for hours Thursday, Dec. 3.

No one was injured when a U.S. Rail locomotive and boxcar, working under contract with SMART Papers, went off the tracks near Gordon Avenue at around 11:30 a.m.

While pushing three boxcars south on the track across the intersection, conductor Lynn Hubbard said the rails pushed out and the boxcar connected to the locomotive came off the track. Hubbard said he didn’t feel a jolt until the locomotive was dragged off the track, cutting a groove into the pavement.

Cincinnati-based Godby Rail Services was called to use rerailing equipment to get the locomotive back on track and out of the road. Danny Pabst of Godby said the derailment was likely caused by the cold temperatures and the previous day’s rain. Those conditions may have caused the railroad ties to expand and the rails to flex, he said.

“Maybe they’ll fix the tracks now,” said nearby resident Dale Gabbard, who brought his grandson out to look at the immobile train.

Gabbard and other residents at the scene said all of the rail intersections along B Street need to be repaired.

“A lot of tracks around Hamilton are really bad,” he said. “You drive over it and it feels like your vehicle’s going to fall apart.”

Although B Street has reopened, Sgt. Tom Kilgour, Hamilton police spokesman, said on Thursday afternoon the condition of the road may cause problems for motorists crossing the intersection.

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