By Doug LaRocque
The Norfolk Southern tracks through the northern Rensselaer County Village of Valley Falls were once again open on Saturday following the Wednesday evening, Feb. 7, derailment of a Berkshire Eastern freight train shortly before 9 p.m.
Ten cars of the 94-car long train left the tracks, two of which ended up in the Hoosic River. One of those cars carried plastic pellets, the other a form of cooking oil.
The cargo was determined not to be hazardous and there were no injuries to rail personnel or village residents. No evacuations took place.
NYS Route 67 through Valley Falls was closed for several days, but as of Friday one lane of travel was re-opened.
The clean-up began just hours after the accident. Rensselaer County Emergency Services Manager Jay Wilson said the rail line brought in clean-up specialists from around the country.
It is expected it will take a full week or more of around the clock work to remove all the damaged rail cars. The cause of the derailment remains under investigation.