SHELBURNE FALLS — A four-car train derailed early Sunday morning in Shelburne Falls, after apparently passing over two paved railroad crossings that showed buckled pavement and mangled tracks.
No direct information was available over the weekend from PanAm Railroad, and local railroad police said they were unable to comment on any aspect of the derailment. There were no reports of any injuries.
At about 7:30 a.m. Buckland resident Steve Howland posted photos of the train lying on its side. What was visible from the tracks near the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum the back of a train with three box cars showing.
Both the road crossings on Ashfield Street and Elm Street were buckled and littered with track debris, and were closed off to traffic. Crewmen were later seen working on the Ashfield Street crossing.
Sgt. Dave McKearney of the state police in Shelburne said a technician told officials it would take two to three days to clean up the site.
Buckland Selectmen’s Chairman Rob Riggan, who lives about 300 feet from the track, said he was aware of the derailment but that town officials were not contacted by Pan Am concerning the accident. “It would be a matter of concern to know how it happened,” he said. “What was the cause of this? This is a heavily used rail line, and we want maximum safety. I think the town government should have some kind of response and explanation.”