The cleanup was still underway in the small community of Saint-André, N.B., Friday after a CN train carrying hazardous materials jumped the tracks Thursday.

Fifty-four cars in a 137-car train jumped the track along the St. John River near Saint-André, N.B., on Thursday.
(CBC)

Fifty-four cars in the 133-car train jumped the track along the St. John River near the Maine border at about 4:30 p.m. AT on Thursday. They were carrying chemicals including propane, sodium chlorate, and hydrochloric acid, which forms toxic gases when exposed to water.

About 100 people were evacuated but were allowed to return to their homes late Thursday night, after officials determined that cars carrying the hazardous materials weren't leaking.

"It was scary," said Saint-André resident Marie-Anne Gagnon. "The first thing we heard was like a bomb. It sounded like accidents or a bunch of cars getting together."

The train was on its way to Dartmouth, N.S., from Toronto. CN officials said the accident sparked some small fires that were quickly extinguished, and only one car leaked a non-toxic material.

No one was injured, but 30 homes in Saint-André and parts of Maine were evacuated for a few hours.

Derek Strong of the RCMP said within hours of the derailment, CN Rail, emergency crews and RCMP were at the scene.

"It's gratifying to see everybody working together so closely," Strong said.

CN Rail and the Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the derailment.

CN said it hopes to have the track cleared and reopened by Saturday.

With files from the Canadian Press