Happened about 1.5 hours ago. Some oil in the river; some cars off the tracks. Fire and smoke, but pretty well subsided now. Might be hard getting to / through Lynchburg by train for a while. I'm quite sure this incident is going to get big play in the media in light of concerns transporting oil by rail. Let's hope I'm wrong.
Lynchburg, Va - Lynchburg emergency officials have confirmed that a train has gone off the tracks in downtown Lynchburg around 1:45 Wednesday afternoon.
Between 12 and 14 CSX tankers carrying crude oil were involved in the train derailment, according to city officials. A witness on the scene says he saw the rail under the train give way. That is, the dirt and stone beneath the train gave way and according to that witness, the train then toppled over.
Between three and six cars caught fire and the smoke can be seen throughout much of Lynchburg.
According to officials, three railway cars are in the river and the product that was in the tankers is spilling into the river.
Witnesses report seeing flames 80 feet high.