Freight train derails in Brookfield

A Housatonic railroad line freight train carrying lumber and construction debris derailed near Silvermine Road in Brookfield at about noon on Tuesday. A Housatonic railroad line freight train carrying lumber and construction debris derailed near Silvermine Road in Brookfield at about noon on Tuesday. Photo: Carol Kaliff /The News-Times Photo: Carol Kaliff /The News-Times Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Freight train derails in Brookfield 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

BROOKFIELD - Several cars from a freight train heading north to Massachusetts derailed near Silvermine Road Tuesday afternoon.

The cars went off the tracks around noon directly behind the U.S. Post Office on Pocono Road near its intersection with Silvermine. No injuries were reported.

Matt Whitney, an attorney with the Housatonic Railroad, said crews were working to assess the damage and to determine its cause.

Police said they were notified of the derailment but no emergency services were required.

The train, which appeared to be carrying construction debris, was headed for Pittsfield, Mass., Whitney said.

“There was nothing hazardous on the train, and there were no spills as a result of the derailment,” he said.

About three cars back from the derailed cars were two tanker cars containing isopropanol, according to the chemical code on the car. The flammable liquid is more commonly known as isopropyl alcohol.

The tanker cars weren’t affected by the derailment,.

Whitney said mud near the tracks after Tuesday’s rain will make it more difficult to put the cars back on the rails. There was no estimate Tuesday as to how long that could take.

The train is the second operated by the Housatonic Railroad to derail during the past year. Seven cars were involved in a derailment in the Gaylordsville section of New Milford in June.

That derailment, which occurred at a private crossing, was found to have resulted from a broken rail at the crossing, local officials said at the time. Nobody was injured in that accident and the train was back in service later that afternoon.

dperrefort@newstimes.com