Residents await word when they can return home after derailment

Aerial view of burning freight cars

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — Residents evacuated after Friday’s derailment of a Norfolk Southern train now await word when they might be allowed to return home, although Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine cautioned Monday that it would not be soon. Cleanup of the 50-car derailment involving toxic chemicals is expected to begin to move forward following Monday’s […]

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Controlled release of chemicals at derailment succesfully completed, NS says

Screenshot of fireball and black smoke

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — The controlled release of chemicals from derailed tank cars in East Palestine has been successful completed, Norfolk Southern said in a press release this afternoon (Monday, Feb. 6) As reported by the Review of East Liverpool, Ohio, the NS release said the chemical release “has been completed successfully under the supervision […]

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Authorities prepare ‘controlled release’ of chemicals at NS derailment

Aerial view of area along Ohio-Pennsylvania state line showing area under evacuation order

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — Authorities are once again warning those near the site of a Norfolk Southern derailment to leave the scene, this time because they plan a “controlled release” this afternoon of the toxic chemical vinyl chloride from five derailed tank cars. “We are ordering you to leave,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said at […]

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Sheriff warns of arrests for those ignoring evacuation order near derailment (updated)

Aerial view of burning freight cars

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — Authorities in Columbiana County, Ohio, have said they will arrest those ignoring the evacuation zone near a Norfolk Southern derailment and fire that occurred on Friday, citing the “high probability of a toxic gas release or explosion.” The announcement on the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page follows Sunday night’s evacuation […]

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Michigan seeks federal funds to upgrade Amtrak route

LANSING, Mich. — Michigan’s Transportation Department will seek $20 million to $25 million in federal grants to repair bridges on a state-owned line used by Amtrak services. Capital News Service reports the funds would be used to repair four bridges between Ann Arbor and Kalamazoo, according to Peter Anastor, director of the transportation department’s Office […]

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Ohio governor issues new evacuation order for East Palestine, warning of possible tank car explosion (updated)

Aerial view of burning freight cars

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and officials in Columbiana County have issued a new evacuation order tonight (Sunday, Feb. 5) for those within a mile of the site of Friday’s derailment of a Norfolk Southern train, warning of a possible tank car explosion, WHIO-TV reports. Also, National Transportation Safety Board investigators have […]

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Vinyl chloride involved in fire from NS derailment, village says

Man speaks at podium facing TV cameras

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — The chemical burning in the fire resulting from Friday’s derailment of a Norfolk Southern train is the flammable gas vinyl chloride, a potentially carcinogenic substance. The village of East Palestine identified the material in a news release Saturday afternoon, NBC News reports. The Environmental Protection Agency says “cancer is a major […]

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Amtrak Chicago departure delays mount

Passenger train leaves rooster tail of snow as it runs on three-track main line

CHICAGO — Lack of standby equipment and the inability of Amtrak mechanical forces to sufficiently prepare cars and locomotives for service led to the cancellation of one pair of Chicago-based trains and departure delays to 11 others on Thursday, Feb. 2. The cancellation of one Chicago-Milwaukee Hiawatha round trip, and the cumulative delays to the […]

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Norfolk Southern derailment in Ohio continues to burn (updated)

Large fire as seen from a distance

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — The mayor of the town of East Palestine has declared a state of emergency as a fire continues to burn, following Friday night’s derailment of about 50 cars of a Norfolk Southern train near the Ohio-Pennsylvania state line. WKBN-TV reports Mayor Trent Conaway issued the emergency declaration just before 9:30 a.m. […]

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Operating the layout — State Line Route in N scale, Episode 26

Operating the layout | In the previous Episode 25 (Car routing with JMRI OperationsPro), you saw the crew prepare the State Line Route N scale model railroad for an operating session. Now, host David Popp walks you through the prototypical actions as they transpire over the simple, yet engaging layout! Enjoying this coverage of our […]

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