Authorities say a Union Pacific train loaded with coal derailed near Jefferson in west central Iowa.
Greene County Sheriff Tom Heater says about 37 cars of a 140-car Union Pacific train went off the tracks at a crossing about 9 p.m. on Sunday about 5 miles west of Jefferson.
Heater on Monday says the train was heading east when the middle of the train “lost it right at the crossing” for whatever reason.
The sheriff says the derailment happened in a rural area, and no injuries are reported.
Heater says some coal was spilled, but other cars remained upright and are still loaded.
The cause of the derailment is under investigation.
I don’t know about Larry, but I’m waiting at home. So far, I’ve missed being part of excitements like this and don’t mind that at all.
From what I’ve seen on our local TV and read on e-mails, one of their Control Points is missing. The crossing appears to be the one that goes thru the middle of the West Jefferson crossovers.
Yes, both tracks were blocked. I haven’t heard anything more recent, but they won’t let this trackage stay blocked any longer than it has to. A control point can be rebuilt a little later, if that’s where it happened. At least they didn’t wipe out a bridge or anything (I’m remembering the wreck at Galt, Illinois, a few years back).
Jeff, good to hear you weren’t involved. I’ve had a few experiences in my career, and they’re never pleasant–whether you’re at fault or not.
They have called crews to go out and drag in eastbounds tied down west of the derailment. I would guess they are close to getting one of the tracks reopened. No one yet called to go east and pull in tied down westbounds. Some traffic has detoured around Iowa.
KCCI-TV (Des Moines) had some pictures on their 5pm news. A teaser for their 6pm news says one of the reporters will show what it takes to reopen the tracks.
I would imagine that, as of this A.M. (Tuesday 3-9) that at least one of the tracks would be open. Anyone know how UP was detouring trains in the interim?
There are a couple of posts on the IAIS Yahoo Group discussing UP detours via the IAIS- one member heard a UP train give up a warrant for the West Des Moines/Council Bluffs segment of IAIS as they headed north out of Des Moines yesterday.
My involvment with this derailment was I was ordered out of fremont nebr at 525am on a work train We cabbed down to Council Bluffs. The train was 9 cars of track panels and ballast, Got to the site at CPA 236 at about 11 am and there we sat until we were relived about 4 pm. I did manage to get a couple of photos from CPA 236 Larry