Freight train derails near Paulding

7/25/2006

PAULDING, Ohio - Railroad investigators probably won't determine until late next month why a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed early Sunday near here, spilling cargo but injuring no one.

Rudy Husband, a Norfolk Southern spokesman, said 27 cars of the train headed from Sandusky to Fort Wayne, Ind., derailed in the accident that occurred at 2:35 a.m. near the State Rt. 637 crossing in Paulding County's Jackson Township. One set of wheels on each of two locomotives also derailed.

The derailed cars were RoadRailers, specially designed truck trailers that can be mounted directly onto railroad wheels for rail transport. Most of the cargo was household appliances and furniture. One wrecked trailer was carrying packaged fuel-injector cleaner and packaged tire cleaner that spilled but was cleaned up within six hours, Mr. Husband said.