FOUR CARS DERAIL AT CHAFFEE

CHAFFEE -- Four Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight cars derailed Sunday near the railroad's terminal at Chaffee.

There were no injuries.

The cars derailed at about 5 p.m. after a section of the track gave way, Police Chief Keith Carr said. The cars were carrying plastic pellets.

The derailed cars were part of an 89-car northbound train.

"They were full," Carr said, and "there is a spill down there."

The accident occurred on a siding between North Frisco and North Main streets.

Wet ground caused the roadbed to give way, said Bill Belongy, Burlington Northern train master in Chaffee.

Belongy said the railroad planned to vacuum up the plastic pellets and haul them off in other train cars. The damaged freight cars would then be removed, probably on trucks, he said.

The track was expected to be repaired and back in service today.

Belongy said the derailment didn't affect the main line, but kept the railroad from being able to put trains on the siding.