Norfolk Southern locomotive derails from Moraine to Dayton, second for company this month

A locomotive was put back on track Thursday after it derailed while traveling from Moraine to Dayton, marking the second train derailment in Ohio this month by the same company — Norfolk Southern Railroad Corporation.

National transportation officials continue to investigate the July 11 derailment of 17 Norfolk Southern train cars in Columbus, which resulted two minor injuries, an estimated $1.2 million in damages and fires that burned for hours, according to a preliminary report released Wednesday by the National Transportation Safety Board.

The derailment in Dayton occurred at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday near the crossing at Hamilton and St. Jude avenues, but it did not cause any damages or injuries.

What caused the single locomotive, which was not hauling any cars, to go off the track in the 15 miles per hour zone is under investigation, according to Dave Pidgeon, spokesman for the Norfolk Southern Railroad Corp.

Pidgeon did not know how fast the locomotive was traveling.

A crew with RJ Corman Railroad Group used equipment Thursday morning to lift the locomotive and move it back in line on the track.

NTSB is not likely to investigate the minor incident, said Terry Williams, NTSB spokesman.

Williams said the investigation into what caused the Columbus derailment is ongoing. The onsite investigation was completed, but the complete report may not be done for several months, he said.

The Federal Railroad Administration Office of Safety Analysis tracks derailments, workplace accidents and other incidents involving railroads.

From 2009 to April 2012, there were 209 total derailments in Ohio, according to FRA records. Two railroad companies, Norfolk Southern and CSX Corp., accounted for 73 percent of those incidents.

Norfolk Southern had 71 derailments and CSX had 82 during that time period, according to FRA records.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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