(The Janesville Gazette posted the following article on its website on March 1.)
JANESVILLE, Wisc. — A Union Pacific Railroad train car derailed shortly after 3 a.m. today, blocking traffic on Delavan Drive and Cherry Street for about four hours, said a patrol sergeant with the Janesville Police Department.
The car, which was traveling on a Wisconsin & Southern Railroad track, was hauling body metal to the General Motors plant when it derailed, said Carolyn Markey, GM communications manager.
“The track is owned by Wisconsin & Southern Railroad, but Union Pacific uses it to get into the plant,” Markey said.
Service was not interrupted at General Motors and Union Pacific employees were finishing derailment clean up just before 8 a.m., Markey said.
Janesville Police assisted with traffic direction while the railroad used lights to warn and reroute traffic, according to the police department spokesman.