Union Pacific says derailments, collision block 3 busy rail tracks through southern Nebraska
(The Associated Press circulated the following on September 9, 2010.)
KEARNEY, Neb. Union Pacific Corp. isn't sure when three busy tracks through southern Nebraska will be reopened after derailments and a collision.
Spokesman Mark Davis said Thursday that the accident occurred around 8 p.m. Wednesday between Kearney and Gibbon. No injuries were reported.
Davis says an eastbound train loaded with coal was passing an unloaded westbound coal train on an adjacent track when cars on one of the trains derailed, striking cars on the other train.
He says 40 loaded coal cars and 18 empty cars derailed. Coal and wreckage scattered across all three tracks in the area.
Davis says crews worked overnight and by early Thursday had removed 12 loaded cars and 16 empty cars from the scene.
He says a total of around 2,600 feet of track must be replaced.
