LIRR on track after freight locomotive derails

A derailment of a New York & Atlantic Railway freight locomotive in Wyandanch caused a temporary suspension of service on the Long Island Rail Road's Ronkonkoma branch early Friday, officials said.

However, morning rush-hour service was not affected by the incident despite initial concerns it might be, LIRR spokesman Aaron Donovan said.

The NY&AR is a short line railroad with exclusive rights to haul freight on Long Island using LIRR tracks. Its diesel freight engine suffered a partial derailment on a siding near the Wyandanch station just after midnight, Donovan said.

Donovan said the incident forced a suspension of LIRR service on the Ronkonkoma branch until 2:45 a.m., when service was restored with speed restrictions in place. All service was back to normal by 5:40 a.m., Donovan said.

Two eastbound trains were terminated at Farmingdale due to the incident, with customers routed onto buses for all local service to Ronkonkoma.

Two westbound trains were terminated at Brentwood, with customers routed onto buses for local service to Hicksville.

After service was restored, Donovan said two trains were delayed due to congestion.

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One eastbound train was delayed 13 minutes, a westbound train delayed 17 minutes.

Donovan said the diesel engine leaked fuel after the derailment but said an environmental clean-up crew was called in to deal with the leak.

No one was injured in the incident. The cause remains under investigation.