Thursday, February 12, 2015

COAL TRAIN DERAILS, SPILLS CONTENTS IN YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA






 COAL TRAIN DERAILS, SPILLS CONTENTS IN YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA

 October 20, 2014



WACO, NEBRASKA — 


It’s still not clear as to what caused the derailment of 28 train cars loaded with coal in Waco early Sunday. The aftermath, however, was astounding as the heavy cars and their contents appeared to have been thrown about like toys near the Central Valley elevator facility.


Each car carries about 120 tons of coal.


The mangled train cars were twisted into each other, some thrown on top of others, some turned on their sides.


The derailment was near the main crossing in Waco and extended to the east, on the southern edge of the elevator property.


Andy Williams, a spokesman for BNSF, said the train was headed east around 3 a.m. Sunday when 28 of its 119 cars derailed, spilling coal and blocking both sets of tracks.


Waco’s Main Street was closed after the derailment.


BNSF crews and contractors with heavy equipment spent Sunday moving cars, scooping up coal and fixing part of the tracks. The effort extended through Monday.


The train cars did not hit the elevator or any nearby structures, and no one was injured.


Some Waco residents said it was fortunate that it happened during the night, as this is typically a very busy area in town. The crossing is consistently active, as it is the only one in the village. It is also on the main road leading from town to Highway 34. Main Street is only yards away.