Coal Cars Derail on Bridge Street

UPDATE: 10 P.M.

A northbound train hauling eight full coal cars derailed before the Nashua River and the Bridge Street Crossing. None of the cars rolled over and were found to be upright, however several were in a leaning position, but no spillage. 

Approximately 100 feet of track may have been damaged as well as parts of the Steel Bridge wooden decking. Pan Am crews responded and opened the Bridge Street railroad crossing by towing out the remaining cars not involved. Bridge Street was closed for about 40 minutes.

City and State authorities have been notified and the investigation is continuing. At this time no cause for the derailment has been determined. All the cars involved contained coal and are not considered hazardous to the public. No injuries were reported.

UPDATE: 9 P.M. Bridge Street is now reopened, according to Justin Kates, Nashua's Director of Emergency Management. Crews at the scene managed to move the cars from the road.

UPDATE 8:45 p.m.: Nashua's Emergency Management Director Justin Kates said police have blocked off the roads on the Nashua side of Bridge Street. No traffic is coming into Nashua from Hudson on Bridge Street at this time.

"The only concern we have is if an ambulance or emergency vehicle needed to come through. We've notified both hospitals, and Hudson Fire," Kates said.

The Pan Am coal train that derailed is a short one, relatively speaking, Kates, said, which is the good news. 

"It was short, so it didn't block off too many roads. We'll see how long it takes to get it back on the tracks," Kates said.

Original story begins (8 p.m.): Nashua Fire Department is on the scene of a coal car derailment at the Bridge Street railroad crossing.

Early reports were that 10 coal cars had derailed, and although they were still upright, they were blocking the road.

No injuries reported, according to fire officials via scanner reports.

We'll update you as we get more information.