Quick action by local firefighters diverted a major disaster early Thursday morning.

At about midnight, a train passing through Clarke County caught on fire.
The engineer tells TV3 one of the engines must have blown, causing the fire.

But the real danger was the fact that burning engine was just three feet from the locomotive's fuel tank , which was holding at least 3,000 gallons of fuel.

The train was about to pass under Route 340 near the West Virginia line.

Several fire departments responded including John Enders Fire Company from Berryville and Citizens Fire Company of Charles Town.

They were able to put the fire out quickly. No one was hurt.