(The following story by Nick Bonham appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain website on May 10.)
PUEBLO, Colo. — A 30-car Union Pacific work train hauling rocks derailed a few miles east of Pueblo on Wednesday morning.
Nobody was injured in the 9:53 a.m. accident that occurred at a switch in the track, just north of the intersection of U.S. 50 and Baxter Road.
The Pueblo Chieftain Online
Spokesmen for the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern & Santa Fe, which owns the track, said the crash is under investigation.
James Barnes of Union Pacific said seven cars derailed in upright positions.
Both the east and west railways were damaged, but BNSF spokesman Steve Forsberg said he did not know the extent of damage or how long repairs would take.
The train was traveling eastbound and had traveled from Cheyenne, Wyo., Barnes said. Even though it was eastbound, the train was scheduled to return to Wyoming.
This is the second derailment east of Pueblo in the past year.
Seven months ago, a 93-car BNSF freight train headed for Denver, derailed near the Pueblo Chemical Depot, farther east of Wednesday’s wreck.
Most of the cars were empty, but a few carried lubricating oil. The accident occurred at a railroad bridge over Chico Creek.
Eight cars went off the track and landed in the creek, spilling oil. Nobody was injured in that accident.