A minor train derailment in Albert Lea Monday was caused by unlevel tracks, a DM&E official said Tuesday.

Wednesday, August 04, 1999

A minor train derailment in Albert Lea Monday was caused by unlevel tracks, a DM&E official said Tuesday.

Traveling from Huron, S.D. to Mason City, Iowa, seven cars of the 77-car DM&E grain train derailed near Front Street when it passed over &uot;cross level elevation&uot; in the tracks at about 6 p.m., said Roy Srp, Minnesota Community Liaison Officer and Manager of Mechanical Operations for DM&E.

&uot;In that particular area under the iron bridge there’s a spot in the railroad where the east rail is higher than the west rail,&uot; he said. &uot;There’s a six-inch differential.&uot;

A three-inch differential is allowed.

&uot;One track went up and the other went down when the train passed at 10 mph,&uot; Srp said. &uot;All it takes is a situation like that.&uot;

The tracks were left twisted and torn, but Srp said the wreckage is now cleared. He expects damaged cars to be removed soon.

Srp said the railroad will remove the switch to the damaged line because the line serves an elevator that is no longer operational.

This is the third minor derailment in Albert Lea in the last month, said Albert Lea Assistant Police Chief Dwaine Winkels.

&uot;We don’t get anything on derailments unless they’re carrying hazardous material,&uot; said Winkels, adding that the police department is also involved if there are injuries or property damage. &uot;It’s a public safety issue when there’s a derailment in town.&uot;

The other minor derailments were near Philly’s Restaurant and near Euclid Avenue and Clark Street.