Freight train carrying dangerous goods jackknifes, derails into Nana Glen paddock

Horror photos have revealed a twisted wreck of train carriages left in a flooded area of rural NSW, as a clean-up of hazardous waste begins.

A freight train derailed in rural NSW early this morning has spilt 8000 litres of hazardous materials into a paddock.

Horror new aerial photos from Fire and Rescue NSW show crushed and derailed train carriages surrounded by flood waters in the Nana Glen area, west of Coffs Harbour on the NSW mid north coast.

A spokesperson for the NSW Rural Fire Service told news.com.au personnel and hazmat specialists were sent to the area, and will be providing assistance over the following days. Members of the SES have also been deployed to the area, which is being affected by ongoing flooding.

Fire and Rescue NSW said in a statement half of the 1500m train derailed about 2.15am on Thursday morning.

“One of these locomotives has leaked up to 8000 litres of diesel and 16 carriages have jackknifed, four of which are in floodwater,” Fire and Rescue NSW said in a statement.

One of the locomotives is now in a paddock and two others are now upright, the statement said.

New aerial images appear to show the train derailed after crossing a flooded area.

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Horror pics show how the freight train came badly unstuck. Picture: Fire and Rescue NSW

The train derailed in the rural town of Nana Glen. NSW Fire and Rescue

“The train was carrying dangerous goods and specialist crews from Sydney and Newcastle have been deployed to the incident,” the statement said.

“A small fire occurred in one of the carriages however this was extinguished by the train driver.”

The driver of the train was later safely removed from the train and assessed by NSW Ambulance crews.

NSW Fire and Rescue warned because of flooding in the areas the incident will be “ongoing over a number of days”.

Half of the 1500m train derailed early this morning, NSW Fire and Rescue said.

The train has spilt 8000 litres of diesel.

A small fire in one of the carriages was extinguished by the train driver.

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NSW Police and the NSW Environmental Protection Agency are also at the scene.

The Nana Glen RFS urged locals to avoid the area, and said rescue crews were being hampered by flooding in the area.

Hilltop Farm in Nana Glen, west of Coffs Harbour, said the train derailed into their property during the night.

The farmer owners said in a post on Facebook the train driver and horses on their property weren’t injured in the derailment, but said the clean-up effort was being hampered by flooding.

“We have had a freight train derailment onto our property during the night but all horses and train driver are OK.

“The situation is not made easy seeing as we are also flooded in.”