Train locomotive catches fire

Ron Wilkins, Lafayette Journal & Courier
Updated ·1 min read
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Lafayette firefighters responded about 12:40 p.m. Monday to a report of a fire in a train car which was on the tracks south of the the Tractor Supply store in the 4800 block of Indiana 38. Turned out to be a fire in a locomotive, according to Lafayette Fire Department. There are no reports of injuries.
Lafayette firefighters responded about 12:40 p.m. Monday to a report of a fire in a train car which was on the tracks south of the the Tractor Supply store in the 4800 block of Indiana 38. Turned out to be a fire in a locomotive, according to Lafayette Fire Department. There are no reports of injuries.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Lafayette firefighters responded Monday afternoon to a report of a train car on fire on the tracks south of the Tractor Supply Co. in the 4800 block of Indiana 38.

Turned out to be a Norfolk-Southern locomotive that was on fire, Lafayette Fire Battalion Chief Brian Perior said.

The top of the locomotive's oil pump blew off and spewed oil onto the hot engine, igniting the oil, Perior said, adding that's what caused the thick black smoke people reported seeing.

The fire was reported about 12:40 p.m. Monday and was out within five minutes of firefighters arriving on the scene, Perior said.

The fire was inside the locomotive's engine compartment, Perior said.

"They shut the fuel off prior to our arrival," he said.

No one was injured in the fire.

Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Train locomotive catches fire