Downtown Businesses Reflect On The Train Derailment

Lynchburg, VA- Even after the clean-up, the derailment left some long-term effects for businesses downtown.

Amazement Square says it's taken them the entire year to get back to normal. The derailment hit during their busiest season, shutting them down for a full week, and forcing them to cancel numerous school field trips, most of which never got rescheduled. Amazement Square says it's been a year of fundraising to make up for the cancellations caused by the derailment.

CSX did settle with them for damages caused, but Director of Marketing Ashleigh Karol says it wasn't enough to cover the long-term impact. For instance, their plan for a Star Wars "Fourth Be With You" day on May 4th last year. They had to cancel it.

Karol says another impact- fear to come back downtown. Months later, people were still calling, asking if it the area was safe.

The Depot Grille closed their doors for a week as well, but only to the public. They say they had staff 24 hours a day feeding the first responders and railroad workers.

General Manager Justin Rogers says CSX reimbursed them enough to cover any losses. Still, they hope this was a once-in-a-lifetime event.

The Depot Grille even served a "Train-Wreck Burger" as their lunch special Thursday-- a flaming hot burger -- in honor of the derailment.