Freight train derails in Connecticut; propane cars end up in river

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A freight train derailed Thursday in Mansfield, Connecticut, sending cars carrying liquid propane into water near Eagleville Lake and the Willimantic River, officials said. Mansfield officials also said a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents would remain in effect even as they stressed that no evacuations had been ordered.

John Roache, the Mansfield fire chief, said during an afternoon briefing that a number of the train’s 41 cars detached and derailed. Roache said four cars carrying liquid propane ended up in the water, while two cars carrying food-grade grease landed on the banks.

Roache said one of the grease cars sustained damage and leaked about 2,000 gallons (7,500 liters) of animal fat, and he said the leak has since been contained. He added there was no evidence the grease entered the water, and he said no injuries were reported.

Officials said the derailment happened around 9 a.m. in Mansfield, where the town is also home to the University of Connecticut. They said the cause of the derailment remained under investigation, and they said the train had been heading south from Palmer, Massachusetts, to Willimantic.

Town officials said the odorless nature of liquid propane was part of the rationale for keeping residents indoors. They said the shelter-in-place order was issued hours earlier for people living within half a mile (0.8 kilometers) of the derailment area, and they continued to urge residents to remain inside as hazmat teams monitored the scene.

The derailment also led the town to close a nearby road and consider alternative bus routes for school dismissal, officials said. Ryan Aylesworth, the town manager, said there does not appear to be serious environmental damage and that state and local hazardous materials teams were monitoring for leaks.

Aylesworth said teams placed hazmat booms in the water as a precaution. “Fortunately, it seems under control,” he said.

Tom Ciuba, a spokesperson for New England Central Railroad, said specialized equipment was expected to arrive Thursday evening to help begin rerailing the affected cars. Roache said recovery could take days because the derailment occurred in a remote location and responders faced frigid conditions.

“It’s not going to be a today operation,” Roache said. “They’re going to have to get some cranes in there. It’s going to take some time.”

For more context, this AP report says the cars carrying liquid propane did not appear to be leaking as officials continued monitoring the area.