October 11, 2020: Hurricane Delta Causes CSX Freight Train to Derail in GA

Heavy rains produced by Hurricane Delta caused a CSX freight train to derail in Lilburn, GA early Sunday morning. Firefighters at the scene said 38 of the 170 rail cars and 3 locomotives went off the track just before 2am. The accident cause a fire that involved potentially hazardous materials. Local residents were asked to evacuate their homes as a precaution, but were able to return a few hours later.
CSX issued the following statement following the accident:
“At around 1:45am this morning a CSX train derailed a number of rail cars including two locomotives in Lilburn, GA. Preliminary information indicates that the derailment was caused by a track washout from intense rain and flash flooding conditions in the area. The two crew members were transported to a local hospital for observation. CSX appreciates the swift response of local first responders. The safety of the community and our crews is our top priority as we work to secure the site and develop a recovery plan.”

Train derails in Lilburn after heavy rain, storms move through metro Atlanta