A switching incident at CSX Transportation's New Castle, Pennsylvania yard derailed several cars and spilled sulfuric acid onto the ground adjacent to yard office buildings.

According to original reports from fire department officials, approximately 10,000 gallons of sulfuric acid trickled from one of two derailed tank cars. The derailment occurred at approximately 10:30 EST as CSXT train Q641-16 (Buffalo, NY to Cumberland, MD) was making a reverse move in the New Castle Yard. The Q641-16 collided with CSXT train Q352-17 (Willard, OH to Cumberland, MD), derailing seven cars, including the two sulfuric acid-hauling tank cars.

Most of the spilled chemical collected in a low-lying area between sets of tracks. CSXT Spokesman Bob Sullivan said a private contractor through CSXT would handle the cleanup.

Sullivan said the accident is still under investigation and there is no damage estimate. "Impact on rail traffic was minimal and there was no impact on the community," he said.