Things Happen in Threes... Including Derailments!

Yes, things happen in threes.  On 2/18, Pan Am had a minor derailment in Nashua NH.  I say minor, but a main road was partially blocked and a crane had to be brought in to fix the situation.  On 2/19, the P&W had 4 loaded autoracks derail at South Main Street in Gardner MA.  RJ Corman was on scene to clean up that mess today.  And this morning I came across 5 cars derailed at Bridge Street in Westford MA, on Pan Am.  They had been removed by the afternoon.

Three of the 5 derailed cars at Westford MA

One of 4 derailed autoracks at Gardner MA

March '13 a Bad Month for Pan Am...

March has been a bad month for Pan Am Railways. 

First, 15 tank cars filled with crude oil derailed in Mattawamkeag, ME on March 7th.  Thankfully, only 3 gallons of oil contaminated the area, and this oil was reported to be only residue from the outside of the cars. 

Later that same day, eight loaded coal cars derailed in Nashua, NH, two of which were on a bridge.  The Bridge Street grade crossing was blocked for about 40 minutes.  This derailment interested local railfans due to the marooning of Norfolk Southern heritage unit #1070, painted in Wabash livery, in New Hampshire.  That unit finally headed back into Massachusetts on it's way home on March 14th.

Lastly, on March 12th, four boxcars derailed just south of Verso Paper Mill in Bucksport, ME.

Hopefully the rest of March will be free from any more derailments!

MORE READING:
http://bangordailynews.com/2013/03/07/news/penobscot/freight-train-pulling-oil-tankers-derails-in-mattawamkeag

http://nashua.patch.com/articles/coal-cars-derail-on-bridge-street
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/996213-469/crews-expected-friday-to-move-derailed-coal.html

http://bangordailynews.com/2013/03/13/news/hancock/pan-am-train-goes-off-the-rails-in-bucksport/