PRINCETON, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — The conductor reportedly told dispatchers, “I think it is bad,” as he saw explosions and fire on the tracks behind him during a train derailment last year in Princeton, Indiana.
On June 17, 2018, 23 cars derailed from a 101-car CSX train at Princeton, Ind. Six of the car were carrying liquid petroleum gas, and two of those tanks ruptured and caught fire.
In a report released recently by the Federal Railroad Administration, “thermal misalignment” was listed as the cause of the incident. Thermal misalignment occurs when extreme heat begins to warp the metal rails.
The conductor was in contact with the dispatcher reported the thermal misalignment when the accident occurred.
A total of 32 people were evacuated from their homes and businesses until the scene was cleared more than 18 hours later.
