Seven rail cars left the tracks Thursday afternoon along Route 611 in Portland, said Todd Weaver, director of emergency management services for Northampton County.
Several rail cars off the tracks the afternoon of Thursday, Feb. 2, 2017, along Route 611 in Portland. No one was reported injured, and there was no known hazard, a Northampton County emergency management official said. (Nick Falsone | For lehighvalleylive.com)
No one was reported injured, and there was no known hazard in the incident that occurred about 1:30 p.m., Weaver said. The cars were hauling grain and sand; propane tankers on the 43-car train were unaffected, he said.
Route 611, also known as River Road in that area, is closed, Weaver said. The incident occurred near the intersection with Demi Road, which is within Portland near the borough’s southern border with Upper Mount Bethel Township.
Heavy equipment is needed to remove the derailed cars, Weaver said.
Portland fire and police officials were on the scene, as were Norfolk Southern crews. A spokesman for the railroad company could not immediately provide details of the incident.
Nick Falsone and Tony Rhodin contributed to this report.
Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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