Train derails in Spring City overnight partially blocking U.S. Highway 27

Train accident tile
Train accident tile

UPDATED: Norfolk Southern is working to clear and repair the track and estimates that the train operations will begin again by late Saturday or early Sunday morning.

Earlier story:

A Norfolk Southern train derailed in Spring City, Tenn., overnight causing U.S. Highway 27 to be partially blocked while crews clean up the mess.

Spring City officials say in a post on the town's Facebook page that no one was injured and there was "no major damage."

The northbound train derailed 49 coal cars at 9:10 p.m. Thursday, Norfolk Southern spokeswoman Susan Terpay said in an emailed statement. The train consisted of three locomotives and 122 coal cars.

"Some of the loaded coal cars turned on their sides," Terpay said. Clean up could take a while, she said.

"Norfolk Southern is on site and is in the process of removing the damaged cars from the rails in order to make track repairs and reopen the rail line," Terpay said. "The cause of the derailment is under investigation."

Norfolk Southern officials asked that the middle and southbound lanes on Highway 27 be blocked, along with Front Street and the town's Nature Park, Spring City officials said in another post about an hour ago.

The closures will remain in place until train officials give the all clear.

Meanwhile, the northbound lanes of Highway 27 will temporarily be converted to two-way traffic, officials said.

"Please use caution or find an alternate route," officials said.

Motorists can use the Highway 68 bypass or Hoyal Lane/Industrial Park Boulevard as alternate routes.

Upcoming Events