Railroad Officials Let Train Cars Burn

One railroad freight car continued burning Monday for a third day after a deadly three-train wreck that forced evacuation of about 100 nearby homes.

The charred remains of two crew members were recovered from the wreckage Sunday. A third was found shortly after the Friday night wreck.

The fire was being allowed to continue to consume corrosive material in the freight car, said Conrail spokesman Bob Libkind.

The evacuations of the nearby homes were ordered because of the threat of a toxic chemical release, but almost all residents had returned home by Monday.

One westbound Conrail train rear-ended another near Effingham on Friday, pushing cars and locomotives onto an adjacent track and into the path of an eastbound train.

State police said 53 cars and six locomotives derailed, and 40 cars caught fire.