Train carrying non-hazardous chemicals derails, hangs off cliff

COLFAX, Calif. -- A train carrying non-hazardous chemicals derailed in northeast California and was partially suspended over a steep cliff Sunday night.

One of the train's 73 cars hung over a drop known as China Wall in a rural area away from people and homes, said Placer County Sheriff's Captain Rick Armstrong. No one was injured and authorities said the rail car was not in danger of falling.

One of the six cars that derailed contained non-hazardous byproducts and two were carrying an ammonia sulfate powder that is not dangerous by itself, Armstrong said.

The Burlington Northern & Santa Fe train was heading east when it derailed at about 2:30 p.m., said Michael Furtney, a spokesman for Union Pacific, which owns the tracks.

The California Forestry Department dispatched hazardous materials crews to the site, northeast of Sacramento.

"We've got people out there on the scene trying to secure all the cars and make sure none of them are leaking," Furtney said. "Given the location, it's fairly tricky."

Passengers on Amtrak's California Zephyr, bound for Emeryville from Chicago, were taken away on buses to continue their journey, said Tom Gambrel of Amtrak.

The voicemail for a Burlington Northern spokeswoman was full Sunday.

The cause of the derailment was under investigation.