Early on the morning of July 5, neighbors nearby the scene of a train derailment in Pell City thought the sound was thunder from the passing storm or residual firework celebrations. 

Fallen trees and crumpled rail cars littered the tracks from Mill Pond Road to Wolf Creek Road, blocking both crossings.

Jonathan Glass, manager public relations with Norfolk Southern, said a total of 25 rail cars derailed. Seven were multi-level autorack rail cars transporting vehicles, four were intermodal rail cars loaded with shipping containers and 14 were empty.

The train derailed at the Wolf Creek Road South crossing around 3:30 a.m., according to the St. Clair County EMA.

There were no reports of injuries and no hazardous materials were involved. Two shipping containers involved in the derailment reportedly spilled a nonhazardous powdery resin material that was contained on site.

The derailed cars were cleared from the track, but still remain near the scene of the accident. Officials are clearing on site, replacing railroad ties and gravel. 

Norfolk Southern resumed train operations on its mainline track through Pell City shortly after 11 a.m. Friday, according to officials. The cause of the derailment is still under investigation.

This is the second train derailment in Pell City within 14 months.  Thirty rail cars on a Norfolk Southern train derailed near Truss Ferry Road on May 19, 2017. No one was injured in the incident.