WENDELL — A freight train carrying acid derailed early Saturday in Wendell.
State fire officials say they believe wet weather caused the Pan Am Railways partial freight train to derail around 3 a.m. in the rural town of about 800 residents. The railroad tracks run along the Millers River.
Four of the six cars overturned. One of the cars was filled with hydrochloric acid, which is corrosive and is used for making batteries and fireworks. That car was later removed, according to New Salem and Wendell Fire Chief Joe Cuneo.
Cuneo said Pan Am will be removing the cars over the following few days.
Cuneo said the incident did not have anything to do with a crack reported in a steel rail at the Pan Am Southern railway crossing at Wendell Depot Road.
“I believe the derailment was weather-related,” Cuneo said.
An evaluation of the car reveals no hazardous-material leaks or reactions took place. No one was injured in the derailment.
Pan Am Railways calls itself North America’s largest regional railroad system, with routes stretching from New Brunswick, Canada, to New York’s Capital District. It hasn’t returned a message seeking comment.