News: Spencer (Train Derailment 1983)

Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson

Email: kathy@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Staege

----Source: Marshfield News-Herald (29 September 1983)

SPENCER -- Clean-up of a Soo Line Railroad train derailment in the Village of Spencer, just west of Willow Street, is expected to be completed by late today.

Jack Staege, supervising agent said this morning that the cause of the derailment which happened about 3 a.m. today, was a defective wheel on one of the three engines pulling the train. The derailment involved two of the engines and eight railroad cars.

"The wheels of the engine was off the tracks for several miles," Staege said. "And it just derailed in Spencer." He added that there was "quite a bit of track damage" due to the faulty wheel.

Six of the cars of the westbound train were empty, and the other two carried machinery or grain. About 20 gallons of diesel fuel from one of the engines spilled onto the right-of-way, but there was no danger to nearby residents, Staege said.

Trains will be rerouted on the passing track, Staege said, so there should be no interruption of service. He added the track should be repaired and the cars and engines re-railed by later today.

There was no dollar estimate of damage.