LOWER SAUCON TWP., Pa. — Nine rail cars and two locomotives jumped the tracks in Saturday’s collision and derailment involving three Norfolk Southern trains in Steel City, an NTSB investigator said.
Ruben Payan, the NTSB investigator in charge of the investigation, released new details and updated local officials during a Wednesday night meeting of Lower Saucon Township Council.
Payan said three of the derailed cars had been hauling hazardous materials — ethanol and butane — but were empty and only contained residue at the time of the crash.
“The tank cars were not breached and we did not find any evidence of hazardous material commodities released,” he said.
"The tank cars were not breached and we did not find any evidence of hazardous material being released."Ruben Payan, NTSB investigator
The first crash occurred when an eastbound intermodal train stopped at a red signal was rear-ended by an intermodal freight train, Payan said. Three rail cars derailed.
Less than a minute later, according to the preliminary investigation, a westbound train collided with the derailed cars and six of the westbound train’s cars left the tracks. Payan said two lead locomotives also derailed and ended up on the river bank, partially in the Lehigh River.
Diesel fuel from the locomotives leaked into the river.
Jeremy Shoemaker, Norfolk Southern’s regional executive director for state relations, said in a statement that a boom remains in the river “to make sure the small amount of diesel fuel that was released is contained and removed from the river.”
Payan said investigators collected the black-box recorders from each train, interviewed crew members and collected and inspected rail equipment and signals.
The derailment happened about 7:15 a.m. Saturday, prompting a large emergency response from agencies in Northampton and Lehigh counties. Rail traffic was restored on two tracks by late Sunday night after Norfolk Southern laid new track.
Payan said there is no evidence that a softening of the rail bed from water runoff contributed to the derailment – something that was speculated widely on social media.
“Preliminary information indicates that the track was not involved,” he said. “We’re still looking at all the other factors but (with) the track we have not found any issues.”
Payan said the speed limit on that section of track, east of Bethlehem, is 30 mph. The rail line is equipped with positive train control, he said.
“It’s a system that knows where every train is. It’s supposed to make sure there’s a safety buffer between them,” he said. “The system works with the signals but once you’re at restricted speed or some speed below a threshold, the system no longer enforces the train separation. It’s one of the limitations of the system.”
Payan said a preliminary report on the investigation will be released by the NTSB in about two to three weeks.
No injuries were reported among train crew members or first responders, authorities said. Township council recognized the more than dozen agencies that answered the call, along with Police Chief Thomas Barndt and Ty Johnson, chief of Lower Saucon Fire & Rescue.
“We appreciate the cooperation and support of Lower Saucon Township and the first responders,” Norfolk Southern’s Shoemaker said in a statement. “Norfolk Southern crews and contractors have made substantial progress in cleaning up the site and have moved the derailed equipment to Norfolk Southern’s property.”
