20061215 Train derails along Patapsco River

Train derails along Patapsco River on Howard and Carroll County line.

by Kevin Dayhoff 7:15 AM Friday, December 15th, 2006

At 2:15 AM, Carroll County, Howard County, Maryland Department of the Environment, and CSX Railroad Hazmat personnel responded to the scene of a CSX freight train derailment.

The voice traffic on the emergency response radio indicated that the train which was comprised of three locomotives and 91 cars was traveling from Cumberland to Philadelphia.

At last report 21 train cars jumped the tracks in a remote area along the Patapsco River in the Patapsco Valley State Park between Sykesville and Marriottsville in the vicinity of Henryton Road the old Henryton hospital.

Communications were difficult as it was in an area where there is no Nextel service, the communications carrier used by many local public safety agencies. Radio and cell phone reception with other carriers was also difficult.

Access to the remote area was difficult and getting to the site of the derailment was delayed until all-terrain “gators,” were brought to the site.

Hazmat personnel finally reached the scene of the derailment at approximately 5:55 AM to find that train cars #27, #28 and #29 were of the most concern and that train car #29 had tipped over. One or several of the train cars are transporting anhydrous (without water) ammonia.

The train cars were not leaking and causing “no issues,” and there is no “immediate concern at this time;” however it would appear that it will be an extended rehabilitation of the train cars involved.

According to Carroll County public information officer, Vivian Laxton, who arrived at the scene 6 PM, there are no reported injuries.

The hazmat response went like clockwork. However the news crews that responded did not have as much luck as mobile news units from ABC2, WBAL and WJZ all got stuck in the mud.

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