35 train cars derail in Palo Pinto County hazmat incident. Cleanup may take days
A train derailment in Palo Pinto County on Tuesday afternoon was being treated as a hazmat situation, according to Palo Pinto County Emergency Services District 1.
Roughly 35 Union Pacific train cars derailed about 2 p.m. Tuesday, two miles east of the town of Gordon, Texas, Union Pacific officials said in a statement to WFAA-TV. The derailment occurred at the Coalville Road Bridge, according to a news release that the Emergency Services District posted to Facebook.
No injuries were reported, and no evacuations were made.
The train cars were carrying hydrochloric acid, propane and fuel but did not leak, Palo Pinto Assistant Fire Chief Kent Farquhar told WFAA on Wednesday. Cleanup could take several days, but no traffic impacts are expected as crews work to remove the derailed cars, Farquhar said.
Helicopter footage from WFAA showed a pileup of tanker cars, heavy smoke, and fire trucks parked in the brush near the site. None of contents of the train cars leaked, according to Palo Pinto County Emergency Services, but residents were urged to avoid the area to allow emergency crews clear access to the scene.
The Palo Pinto Fire Department responded to the scene to contain a grass fire. Two firefighters experienced health issues as a result of the heat, but were not hospitalized, Farquhar said.
Union Pacific is investigating the incident, officials said in a statement to WFAA.
Palo Pinto County is about 90 miles southwest of Fort Worth.
This story was originally published August 12, 2025 at 5:16 PM.
