A CSX coal train derailed in Ellicott City late last night
dumping coal from twenty one rail cars along a the tracks stretching fromParking Lot B to just past the B&O railroad museum. At least two people are
known dead. The Washington Post has identified the victims as Elizabeth Conway Nass and Rose Louese Mayr. As of 10 AM rescue workers were still digging out cars in the
parking lot buried under derailed cars and coal. The CSX tracks run the
length of the small parking lot along the river.
By the time I arrived on the scene this morning it had
become a full blown media event. Camera trucks were stationed in the parking
lot of St. Pauls church, on the sidewalk in front of the old post office and
all along Main Street .
Main Steet was closed closed off from Old Columbia Pike down to the river. Matthew
Milani, the owner of the Rumor Mill restaurant, said he had been told the
street would be closed until Thursday.
It will likely take longer than that to clean up all the
coal.
I overheard one local telling a reporter that "nothing bad ever happens in Ellicott City, except floods."
And then there's that...
