Luzerne County and Hazle Township officials told local media that about 336 tons of coal were spilled in the 3pm derailment near Jeddo.
Clean-up may take several days, they added, though most coal did not travel far due to a blanket of fresh snow.
There were no reported injuries or damage to private property.
Earlier this week in Montana, a Montana Rail Link coal train derailed near Missoula that left neither injuries nor spilled coal.
MRL spokeswoman Lynda Frost told the Missoulan newspaper that the three loaded cars that left the tracks Monday afternoon remained upright and one set of wheels for the third car remained on the tracks after the incident.
An investigation has begun to determine cause of that incident.