Thirteen CSX coal cars derailed around 1:30pm on July 23, 2021. The derailment occurred near the Lee Bridge and Tredegar Street in Richmond, VA. The train dumped approximately 663 tons of coal onto the ground. Of that, around 500 tons of that slipped into the Kanawha Canal.
CSX and The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality have worked together to clean up 355 tons of the spilled coal as of Wednesday, July 28. 2021. CSX deployed booms and turbidity curtains to contain the coal and prevent it from reaching the James River. DEQ communications manager, Ann Regn, said “The team is confident that the turbidity curtain installed in the pump house canal is effectively containing the coal.”
This derailment is the second to occur in this area in six weeks. A CSX mixed freight train derailed near Tredegar street on June 8, 2021. That derailment did not result in a spill. CSX said the two incidents were caused by different issues. They went on to say “Due to the commonality of location for both incidents, CSX has taken proactive steps and made adjustments to the track structure to reduce the risk of future events at this location.”
Lesley Schuneman
thanks to the author for taking his clock time on this one.