(The following story by Tom Robb appeared on the Journal & Topics website on November 19, 2009.)
DES PLAINES, Ill. — Investigators from the Union Pacific Railroad are still investigating the Nov. 1 train derailment that sent 18 Canadian Pacific rail cars spilling down an embankment onto Shermer Road on the Glenview-Northbrook border near Willow Road.
Shermer was closed to traffic for eight days until Monday, Nov. 9. A salvage company had until yesterday (Tuesday) to clear remaining cars from the area.
The derailment was caused when the last four cars of one train struck the middle cars of another train when the two were passing each other on the tracks near Shermer near Willow.
Union Pacific spokesman Mark Davis said the cause of the derailment was a defect on the rail cars. He would not clarify further how the derailment occurred.
A Canadian Pacific spokesman said the incident is still under investigation and would not provide any more detail than that offered by Davis.
Rail lines in both directions were closed as a result of the derailment. One rail line was reopened on Monday, Nov. 2 at 11 p.m. the other was reopened on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 10 p.m.
The derailment caused 1,400 feet of track and four track switches to be damaged. There was no damage to the Willow Road bridge, said Davis.
No major injuries were reported.
Northbrook fire officials said cargo that spilled from rail cars was grain that did not cause a hazardous materials situation.