Train derails in Baldwin after striking rockslide; road reopened Monday afternoon

BALDWIN, Pa. — A train derailment early Sunday morning in Baldwin closed nearby road closure into Monday, which was reopened at noon Monday, while crews cleaned up the incident, officials said.

Norfolk Southern, the company that runs the train, said in a press release that the derailment occurred because the train struck a rockslide.

>> PHOTOS: Train derails in Baldwin, clean-up expected to last 24 hours

Police said the derailment happened about 4:45 a.m. in the area of River Road (State Route 837), which is closed in both directions from the Glenwood Bridge to Becks Run Road.

Clean-up operations from the train derailment will continue for the remainder of this week, and officials ask motorists to use caution as heavy machinery will be entering and exiting River Road via access roads to the tracks.

Emergency crews responded and found the Norfolk Southern train had overturned while traveling on the upper track parallel to River Road.

Allegheny County 911 confirmed no one was hurt. Two people were reportedly on the train and were pulled out by paramedics. The Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire said one engineer was able to get themselves out.

Norfolk Southern said in a news release that the train was traveling from Chicago to New Jersey, and initial reports stated that both locomotives and five cars derailed after the train struck the rockslide.

Norfolk Southern said the train was carrying intermodal freight.

According to the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire, the Hazardous Materials Response Team checked for leaking hazardous materials in the boxcars. Police said there are no threats or hazards to the public as a result of the derailment.

Norfolk Southern released the following statement on Sunday:

“We’re glad our crew is OK and grateful for the quick response from the Pittsburgh and Baldwin fire departments and their help in getting our crew safely down from the locomotive. We appreciate Pittsburgh PD’s assistance in keeping the scene safe and accessible for our equipment as our crews and contractors work quickly to safely right the train and get goods moving again.”

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