FOLKSTON, Ga. — Three CSX crew members have been taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after an intermodal train struck a standing rock train in Folkston, the railroad said in a statement this afternoon.
The collision occurred about 1:24 p.m. Two locomotives, two intermodal cars, and two rock cars derailed as a result, and a small fire resulted that has been extinguished. No hazardous materials are involved.
“We appreciate the swift response of local first responders,” CSX said in its statement. “CSX has deployed resources to assess the situation, remove the equipment, and restore the area. The cause of the incident is under investigation.”
The National Transportation Safety Board has announced it will also be conducting an investigation.
Charlton County Sheriff Robert Phillips reports the collision occurred just north of the State Route 121 overpass in Folkston. That bridge remains open, while the Charlton County Herald reports on Facebook that a number of downtown railroad crossings in Folkston are closed as result of the derailment.
Folkston, a popular railfan location, is about 35 miles southeast of Waycross, Ga., and 42 miles northwest of Jacksonville, Fla., It is a meeting place for CSX’s Nahunta and Jesup subdivisions, funneling traffic to and from the Northeast and Midwest/Waycross, Ga., respectively. As of 3:35 p.m. ET, the Amtrak Alerts feed on X reports the derailment has led to cancellation of Amtrak’s Auto Train today and tomorrow in both directions, as well as today’s Silver Meteor from New York to Jacksonville.
— Updated at 3:20 p.m. CT with map, background information on Folkston, and Amtrak cancellations; updated at 8:48 p.m. CT with NTSB announcement of investigation.
