(The following article by Margie Cady was posted on the Winona Daily News website on March 12.)
MINNESOTA CITY, Minn. — No one was injured when eight empty Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad cars derailed about 1:30 p.m. Thursday off of Winona County Road 23.
Authorities investigated the derailment throughout the afternoon. It happened in Rollingstone Township about five miles northwest of Winona. About 240 feet of track were torn up by the derailment, but were expected to reopen today.
It’s possible a portion of the track could have been damaged prior to the derailment, said Roy Srp, DM&E manager of mechanical operations in Waseca, Minn. “That track’s in bad shape,” he said.
The train was headed to Waseca with 47 cars pulled by three engines, Srp said. A conductor and engineer were on board.
Joel Meyerhoff of Minnesota City came out to the scene with his family after learning about the derailment from a neighbor. The speed limit in the area for trains is 20 mph, Meyerhoff said, adding that trains have to creep through because of the track’s poor conditions.
Kevin Kronebusch, who lives on nearby Sherry Lane, didn’t get too excited by the derailment.
“We’ve been here 20 years and I think this is like the third, fourth one,” he said.
Said Srp: “We’re plagued by derailments, no doubt.”