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Flames And Smoke Billow From Train Traveling Through Beaver County

BADEN, Pa. (KDKA) -- Firefighters rushed to put out flames pouring from a train car traveling through Beaver County on Monday.

Nobody was hurt, but the incident did turn some heads, especially for Sean Hudak from New Galilee. He told KDKA he was unloading a barge in Monaca around noon Monday when he saw the Norfolk Southern train blazing down the tracks.

He caught the whole thing on camera, where you can see flames shooting from a train car, leaving a trail of thick black smoke.

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(Source: Baden Volunteer Fire Department - Station 47/Facebook)

"I was in complete shock. I was looking at it and I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I instantly started thinking, 'Okay the railyard isn't that much further down the tracks. So, is the burning train going to go into the railyard and start catching other stuff on fire?" said Hudak.

According to fire officials, the fire started in the engine and the train burned for about 6 miles before screeching to a halt in Baden.

"The way those train engines are built, everything is very compartmentalized. They're very hard to access," said Baden VFD Chief Dennis Baker.

Chief Baker told KDKA engine oil was also helping fuel the fire. But with help from surrounding departments, firefighters used foam and water to eventually put the flames out, while also battling the elements.

"The weather alone, everything was iced up as soon as we started flowing the water. The catwalks on the train are all metal so they immediately froze," Baker said.

Earlier today , Engine 47 and 48 were dispatched for a reported train fire. Crews made a great stop on the fire. Due to...

Posted by Baden Volunteer Fire Department - Station 47 on Monday, January 24, 2022

A spokesperson for Norfolk Southern said fortunately nobody was hurt or even on this locomotive at the time, as the conductor and engineer were on the lead locomotive in front of it.

The railroad company released the following statement:

"We're grateful that our crew is safe and no one was hurt. We commend them for acting with professionalism and calmness throughout this incident. We'd like to thank all of the departments for responding to the scene and quickly putting out the fire."

The fire caused major damage to the single locomotive where the fire happened. It's been swapped out and is being sent to the garage so Norfolk Southern can try and determine what caused this fire.

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