The Union Pacific Railroad's North Local, which operates Monday through Friday as a round trip between Bloomington and Mazonia, Illinois, went on the ground Wednesday morning, April 23, 2008, south of Pontiac. The derailment involved ten empty grain cars, four of which ended up in fields on either side of the tracks, which were blocked. the location where the derailment took place is the Pontiac mainline and siding. The line is a main route for Amtrak between Chicago and St. Louis. Passengers on trains running on the line were placed on charter busses from the Normal Amtrak depot. The line was expected to be back in service in the late evening.
STEVE SMEDLEY
