A Sequatchie Valley Railroad train partly derailed Saturday afternoon blocking vehicle traffic to and from Battery Hill in Bridgeport. AL, for a short time. Fortunately, the train was north bound, so the train cars were separated at the derailment, which allowed the engine and remaining railcars that did not derail to continue up the rail line, which opened Battery Hill to vehicle traffic.
The same cannot be said for the walking bridge over the river as the remaining derailed section of the train including cars not derailed at the rear of the train blocked access to the walking bridge including the Creek’s house near the bridge.
Several railcars are derailed with one nearly toppling over with the only thing that stopped it from falling completely on its side was the side of the railcar came to rest against the posts that supports the railroad signal lights above. However, the truck (wheel sets) from the one end of that railcar were loosened from the railcar and managed to make it to the center of the railcar where it ripped open one of the lower hopper discharge doors causing the railcar to partly spill its contents…