Conductor hurt as UP train derails near San Antonio
(The following story by Vianna Davila appeared on the San Antonio Express-News website on November 4, 2009.)
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Officials are investigating how a 96-car Union Pacific grain train derailed in Atascosa County early Wednesday, leaving the conductor with minor injuries.
The incident happened around 12:45 a.m. Wednesday, on the Union Pacific tracks alongside U.S. 281 and FM 140, just north of Campbellton, Atascosa County Sheriff's Chief Deputy David Soward said.
Officials said about six Union Pacific cars on the grain train derailed after they collided with a 60-car rock train from the San Miguel Power Plant, said Raquel Espinoza, Union Pacific corporate relations and media director.
The rock train was stationary, but the impact caused two of its cars to derail, Espinoza said. That locomotive had originated in New Braunfels and was tied down to a side track awaiting pickup, she said.
The Union Pacific train was traveling from San Antonio to Corpus Christi. No hazardous materials were on board, Espinoza said.
The line was expected to reopen by Wednesday night, and cleanup efforts should be complete before week's end, Espinoza said. She would not comment on the possible cause of the derailment, adding that Union Pacific officials are investigating the incident.
The Union Pacific conductor was transported to a San Antonio hospital with minor injuries and released by mid-day Wednesday.
Union Pacific trains have derailed 22 times in Texas this year. Of those, eight were on side tracks, including Wednesday's accident. The majority of derailments occurred on main UP tracks, Espinoza said.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
