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Neighbors in disbelief after train derails near their homes

Neighbors living near the railroad track described what they heard Saturday night. 

Residents in North Knoxville are still in disbelief after a train derailment sent 19 cars off of the tracks.

It happened off of Inskip Drive and Fennel Road around 10 p.m. Saturday night. The rail cars were carrying electronics, toys, furniture and food. One railcar carried vehicles.

Crews spent most of Sunday clearing the rail cars from the tracks as neighbors looked on. Many said they were in disbelief that a derailment happened so close to their homes.

“It's pretty scary now that we're looking at it. It's just right here. It's not even 50 yards away, and those cars are about to tip over," one North Knoxville neighbor, Mark Wallace, said.

He lives just down the street from the tracks. He said he heard the roar of the train as it skidded off the tracks.

RELATED: KPD: No injuries after train derails in North Knoxville, multiple buildings damaged

"It sounded like a building falling down or something, just a loud crash and it just kept going, just a loud roar," he said.

Sandra Tindell lives on the other side of tracks, right next to the railroad. Railcars were stacked up just in front of her home, but she said the incident doesn’t worry her.

“It does not scare me one bit," she said.

Wallace, however, said he was a bit concerned.

"We remember the deal in Maryville where they had that fire and that chemical burn for days," he said.

But, these cars were not carrying hazardous materials. Wallace said that helped to ease his mind. He said he’s just thankful no one was hurt.

Crews were able to clear most of the cars from the tracks on Sunday. Now they are working to repair the damaged track.

The cause of the derailment is still under investigation.

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