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The two members of a Union Pacific freight train crew were uninjured Thursday when the 50-car train derailed in a remote, wooded area of Leon County.
Officials said they weren't sure what caused the train to derail near a trestle over Keechi Creek.
"At this point our crews are assessing all damages," said Raquel Espinoza-Williams, a Union Pacific spokeswoman.
The train was on its way from Laredo to Illinois around 4:30 a.m. three miles west of Oakwood when it left tracks that parallel U.S. 79.
The train, which had four locomotives, was carrying auto parts, bricks and soap, among other things, Espinoza-Williams said.
Officials feared that some of the cargo might be hazardous, and residents within a mile and a half of the scene were evacuated. It wasn't clear how many people were evacuated or whether they had been allowed to return by Thursday night.
Officials spent much of Thursday battling a fire in the area. It wasn't clear whether the fire started as a result of the derailment or had ignited earlier, Espinoza-Williams said.
Because the area where the fire and derailment occurred was largely inaccessible, helicopters were brought in to fight the blaze.
"Two helicopters, one from the Texas Forest Service and one from Global Services, were used to put out the fire," Espinoza-Williams said. "The last three locomotives and the rail car caught on fire. Part of the fourth locomotive fell into the creek."
The drop from the trestle into the creek was about 15 feet.
A locomotive was brought in to remove the remainder of the train, and crews will have to build a road to get equipment into the area, Espinoza-Williams said.
"Before we can open the main line, which we think will take about five days, we'll have to rebuild the track," she said.
Diesel fuel from the locomotives spilled into the creek, but Espinoza-Williams said she wasn't aware of any environmental damage. Hazardous materials crews were on the scene all day.
"We had to set up containment booms, and we had crews removing the diesel," she said.
* Eagle staff writer Shauna Lewis contributed to this story.
