(The following story by Terri Simon appeared on the Bureau County Republican website on May 25.)
BUREAU JUNCTION, Ill. — It was supposed to be a leisurely bike ride along the Illinois River. But for Cal Sampson of Chillicothe, Saturday afternoon was anything but relaxing.
“I ride my bike a lot along the Illinois River … I especially like this road here from Bureau to (Interstate) 180. It’s a quiet ride, pretty,” Sampson said.
Sampson was about two and one-half miles south of Bureau when the relaxing reverie was interrupted.
“The sound was the worst I’d ever heard. It was about a half mile behind me, so I didn’t see it. I just heard it … I thought it was an explosion,” Sampson said.
Sampson was referring to the derailment of the Iowa Interstate train, which occurred about 1:30 p.m. Saturday. The train was traveling to Peoria, parallel to Route 29, on the CSX Railroad line, when 13 cars left the track. The train cars were filled with grain.
According to CSX officials, the derailment was caused by a harmonic rock, where train cars begin rocking from side to side. Two cars were involved in the harmonic rock, and once they left the track, 11 other cars smashed together, scattering the train cars in a horizontal position across the track.
On Monday, workers from CSX were beginning to repair the 500 feet of destroyed railroad track. The tracks are expected back in service later this week.
No injuries were reported.