(The following article by Deb Nicklay was posted on the Mason City Globe Gazette website on May 13.)
GARNER, Iowa — Ten Iowa, Chicago and Eastern (IC&E) train cars derailed near Garner early Saturday, dumping their load but causing no injury, officials said.
The 5,000-foot train was traveling eastbound along the track that runs parallel to Highway 18 on the south.
The derailment happened at 2:30 a.m., one mile east of the city at Union Avenue, said a spokesman for the railroad.
“I am not sure, at this point, what was in the cars but we know there was no hazardous material,” said Richard Lemieux, assistant chief dispatcher for the railroad.
Witnesses at the scene reported seeing a mix of contents in the different cars, from corn to what appeared to be scrap metal.
Cause of the derailment is unknown and remains under investigation, he said.
Lemieux believed it would take a few days to clean up the site and to remove cars.
Traffic was not seriously interrupted due to the derailment, Lemieux said.