NORTHFIELD, Mass. — No injuries were reported in a slow-speed derailment of Amtrak’s Vermonter this afternoon in Northfield, at a junction of the Berkshire & Eastern and New England Central railroads.
Northfield Fire Chief Floyd Dunnel told WBBG and WSHM-TV that 113 passengers were on board the southbound train, and remained on the train with the locomotive still operating to provide heat. Northfield’s highway department was needed to clear a 12-foot snow drift snow so passengers could be transferred to buses. The Greenfield Recorder reports Dunnell said the train was operating at 7 mph when it derailed at a snow- and ice-covered switch about 2:30 p.m.
Amtrak’s website says the train has been canceled south of Brattleboro, Vt., “due to an engine and equipment failure related to severe weather conditions.” Passengers were to be bused to Springfield, Mass., to board another train to continue to Washington, D.C. The Amtrak Alerts feed says the northbound Vermonter has been canceled between Springfield and St. Albans, Vt., “due to unscheduled maintenance needs.”
Northfield is just across the state line from Vermont and about 14 miles north of Greenfield.
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I had to look this location up. I thought I knew almost all the 351 cities and towns but I never heard of Northfield. The train passes through Northfield on the route between stops at Greenfield (MA) and Brattleboro (VT).
By “Berkshire and Eastern” in the article, what is meant is the CSX/ NS Hoosac Tunnel route, ex-B&M Corporation.
I’d really be curious about the condition of the switch. I’ve derailed on a crossing before due to the flangeways being filled solid with ice.