(The following article by Darryl Enriquez was posted on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel website on August 22.)
WAUKESHA, Wisc. — A freight train about 2,600 feet long derailed downtown Tuesday night, tearing up track and indefinitely blocking traffic at major street crossings.
Two engines and eight cars of the Wisconsin and Southern train jumped the track not far from the Phoenix Heights subdivision.
The accident, in which no one was reported to have been injured, also blocked traffic on a major rail line sometimes known as the “Iron Interstate,” which handles 30 to 40 trains on an average day.
Authorities at the scene reported a minor spill of diesel oil, but no other problems with dangerous material although authorities evacuated several homes.
Damage from the derailment, on Canadian National Railway tracks, closed crossings at the Arcadian and Hartwell avenues and the Main Street crossings, and damaged the Broadway and White Rock Ave. crossings, all of which had rehabilitation work on them within recent weeks.
A railroad worker at the scene said he was unsure a how long it would take to clear the trains from the tracks and repair the damage.
Andy Deuster, a resident of White Rock Ave., witnessed the derailment. He said the first three engines were traveling without a problem when several cars begin to bounce. The first couple of cars then bowed out, pulling the third engine completely off the track and the second engine halfway off, causing its nose to dig into the dirt.
Deuster said that when the train came to a halt, at least six cars were generally upright but were leaning to one side. He said at least three or four wheels had been torn off of some of the cars, and the track was damaged enough to have caused the rail ties to be completely sheared off.
“I’ve never seen a train bounce like that,” Deuster said.
About 6:55, witnesses reported hearing a loud boom, and spectators began flocking to the scene.
Waukesha fire officials were still at the scene late Tuesday and said the train cars were carrying paper and plastic, but no dangerous materials. No cause for the incident was apparent, officials said.