Train Derails in St. Albans, VT Tipping Over Propane Tanks

December 8th, 2010 |

ST. ALBANS, VT – Two propane tanker cars tipped over on their sides in a train derailment in St. Albans, VT on December 7, 2010.

Train derails just outside the rail yard in St. Albans, VT on Tuesday evening, December 7, 2010.

St. Albans is located in Franklin County, Vermont in the northern part of the state about 64 miles northwest of Montpelier.

The mishap occurred around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday evening near the St. Albans rail yard just off Brigham Road.

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Four propane cars in total were derailed in the accident. In addition to the two propane cars that tipped over onto their sides, two others remained upright. One of the other propane cars was tipping and the other one jumped off the tracks.

Local firefighters were alerted and were called to the scene and remained until about 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday.

The tanker cars held and none of the volatile gas leaked and no one had to be evacuated, but, as a precaution, classes at a nearby elementary school were canceled for Wednesday.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported as a result of the derailment and there were no reports of injuries to any railroad workers.

Local residents reported a loud noise when the train derailed.

Location of the train derailment in St. Albans, VT near the rail yard just off Brigham Rd.

The name of the company transporting the propane was not released, but it was reported to be headquartered in Berlin, VT. In a directory of Vermont railroad companies, the only one listed in Berlin, VT is the St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad.

The propane was on its way from Montreal to St. Albans. It was planned that the tanks would be offload on Wednesday before the cars would be righted. The work was planned to be done by a crew from Buffalo, N.Y.

Officials do not know the cause of the derailment. The train was reported to be running at low speed approaching the rail yard when the accident occurred.

The situation would continue to be monitored by rail yard crews and the St. Albans Fire Department while crews are working. In the event that the propane begins to leak there is an evacuation plan that could be implemented. Officials do not expect any problems with leakage, though.

Published by FELA lawyer Gordon &amp Elias, LLP