(The following article was posted on theOmahaChannel.com website on May 3.)
NORTH BEND, Neb. — Two train engineers were taken by helicopter to an Omaha hospital after a derailment northwest of the city Monday at about 11:30 p.m.
The scene is just off Highway 30 near North Bend — about 50 miles northwest of Omaha. Two Union Pacific trains — one headed for Clinton, Iowa, and the other headed to Illinois — derailed when one rear-ended the other.
Officials said 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilled and crews are vacuuming up as much as possible. Coal was also scattered over the tracks. The remaining soil will be removed to ensure a complete cleanup. About 320 feet of track will have to be replaced.
The track should be open between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday.
It took more than an hour to free the engineers. The engineers injuries were considered to be non-life-threatening.