KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar BluffDamaged train rips up crossings in Johnston City

Damaged train rips up crossings in Johnston City

By Julia Bruck - bio | email

JOHNSTON CITY, IL (KFVS) - Union Pacific crews worked to fix damaged railroad crossings from Johnston City to Marion Monday after an alert caller helped prevent a possible train derailment in Williamson County.  

Union Pacific spokesperson Mark Davis says engineering teams worked on rail crossings while others repaired a broken rail car in Marion.  This all comes after a Union Pacific coal train headed from Colorado to Kentucky passed through Johnston City about 2 a.m. Monday.

Authorities say a citizen reported sparks coming from the back of the train.  Davis says they were able to stop the train in Marion.  Crews found a rail car with a broken axle, dragging along the bottom on the train.  Davis says that axle caused damage to several rail crossings.  However, adds it could have been much worse.

"The rail car could have eventually come off the track all together and created a lot worse problems," Davis said.  "So we're very fortunate that a citizen noticed the car and noticed a spark and notified authorities right away."

A dispatcher with Johnston City says four crossings, including the crossing on Broadway, were torn up by whatever was dragging under the car.  The dispatcher says they found parts of the train near the crossings including springs.

After further inspection it appears the concrete built-up across the crossings is what was destroyed at least in Johnston City.

Union Pacific has launched an investigation into when and where the axle broke.  Davis expects most rail crossings to be temporarily fixed by the end of Monday.  More permanent repairs will be made in coming weeks.  As for the broken rail car and the train, Davis says that should be back up and running.

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