Union Pacific Train Avoids Derailment in New Braunfels Texas

August 4th, 2011 |

NEW BRAUNFELS, TX – It was a close call for a Union Pacific Railroad traveling through New Braunfels, TX Wednesday, Aug 2, when railroad workers stopped the train to avoid a likely derailment.

new-braunfels-tx-union-pacific-train-accident-map

Map showing location of Union Pacific train accident in New Braunfels, TX that avoided a derailment, but tied up traffic along Farm to Market 306 on Tuesday, August 2, 2011.

The train stopped at around 4:00 p.m. tieing up traffic on FM 306 near Gruene for several hours due to what railroad workers call a “sun kink” or a buckle in the rails, making forward progress dangerous with derailment as the likely outcome.

KNGB reports:

In the end, the train was separated in the middle, after Union Pacific workers made sure the line was safe enough on both sides to separate the cars. Once separated, the original engine pulled one half of the train out of the way, while a 2nd engine was called in to the back side of the train to pull it away from the FM 306 intersection. During all of this, New Braunfels Police rerouted traffic on one side of the tracks over to Hoffman Lane, but traffic in that area was still very backed up until a little after 6pm when the train was finally separated and moved away from the crossing

FELA Lawyer News Blog is a FELA, train accident and personal injury blog that publishes up to date train accidents and FELA legal news from across the United States. The Federal Employers ‘Liability Act, (FELA) allows injured railroad workers to recover compensation based on the negligence of the railroad company, in lieu of workers’ compensation. FELA defines negligence as the railroad company’s failure to use reasonable care.

Other cities near New Braunfels, Texas include Austin and san Antonio.