UP TRAIN DERAILS NEAR CLARKS, NEBRASKA Photo here: [theindependent.com] Caption reads: Fourteen Union Pacific rail cars derailed Thursday just west of Clarks. Damage from the derailment extended from 23rd Road to east of 25th Road parallel to Highway 30 in Merrick County. Independent/Scott Kingsley Photo here: [theindependent.com] Caption reads: A Union Pacific crew uses cranes and winches to raise one of 14 rail cars that derailed west of Clarks. The crews pulled the wheel assembly out from under the car. Independent/Scott Kingsley CLARKS, NE -- Fourteen Union Pacific Railroad cars derailed Thursday morning near Clarks, Nebraska, and work was quickly under way to repair the damaged tracks. James Barnes, director of media information with Union Pacific, said the derailment was reported at 08:07. "We're pleased that no one was injured and no chemicals were spilled," he said. The 61-car, manifest train originated out of Central City and was traveling east to Council Bluffs, Iowa. It was hauling flour, coal and grain products, Barnes said. Manifest trains carry a variety of commodities, he said. None of the cargo was spilled in the derailment, he said. The derailed cars remained upright and weren't blocking any crossings. The tracks were damaged in the derailment, and Union Pacific workers were on the site Thursday accessing the damage and beginning repairs, Barnes said. The workers were also "rerailing" the cars that weren't damaged, he said. Rerouting orders were being given to other trains to avoid lengthy delays, he said. The cause of the derailment was being investigated, and Barnes didn't know how long the repairs would take. Clarks is about 10 miles northeast of Central City. - Sarah Schulz, The Grand Island Independent
