January 5th, 2012 | 
Author: POCATELLO, ID – Three cars from a Union Pacific train derailed in a Pocatello, ID rail yard late Friday evening, December 30, 2011.
Rail cars lay toppled over onto their sides after a Union Pacific train derailment in Pocatello, ID on Friday, December 30, 2011. Photo credit: KPVI News
Pocatello is located in Bannock County, Idaho in the southeastern part of the state about 234 miles southeast of Boise, 118 miles northeast of Twin Falls and 52 miles southwest of Idaho Falls.
The mishap occurred around 11:50 p.m. Friday on one of the three main lines that run through the rail yard near the cross streets of North Union Pacific Ave and Lander Street.
Map showing location of Union Pacific train derailment in a Pocatello, ID rail yard near North Union Pacific Ave and Lander Street.
The three rail cars that jumped the tracks tipped over and fell onto their sides. They were container cars that were loaded with flour at the time.
The cause of the mishap is not known at this time but is currently under investigation. None of the containers were breached and no one was injured in the incident. None of the flour was spilled in the derailment.
Fortunately no railroad workers were injured in the mishap and there were no fuel leaks and no hazardous materials were involved.
The derailed cars were blocking the one main line, but rail traffic was not interrupted on the other two main lines that run through the yard.
An article in the KPVI News website reported on the story.
Aaron Hunt, Director of Corporate and Media Relations for UP, says a train was moving through the Pocatello yard around 11:50 p.m. when three containers derailed near Lander Street and North Union Pacific Avenue.
Officials felt that it was best to load the derailed containers onto flatbed trucks and haul them out of the area so rail traffic in the area could resume as quickly as possible.
Even though the derailed cars appeared to be sound enough to be put back into service, it was decided to remove them in this situation rather than re-rail them on the spot. The plan was to remove them for a closer inspection before putting them back into service.
According to the railroad, the line was cleared by by 7:50 p.m. on Saturday, the following day.
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.
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