(The Hutchinson News posted the following article on its website on Sept 12.)
HUTCHINSON, Kansas — The cause of a minor train derailment at the ADM elevator on Halstead Street that blocked the road for much of the day Monday has not been determined.
“Two cars loaded with sorghum derailed on the industry track when they were switching, trying to build a train,” said Steve Forsberg, general director of public affairs with BNSF. “Three of four sets of wheels on the two cars derailed. It’s still being investigated what caused it.”
The cars remained upright, but special equipment had to be brought in to lift them because they’d just been filled, Forsberg said.
“The equipment they had on hand wasn’t able to do the job,” Forsberg said. “They ordered additional heavy equipment to lift the cars. The estimated time of arrival was around noon.”
The accident occurred shortly after 4 a.m. Monday. Halstead Street remained closed between 4th and 11th avenues until late afternoon. The derailment did not block BNSF’s main track.
The cars had just been loaded and were pulling away from the elevator when they derailed, a spokesman at the ADM elevator said.