An empty Minnesota Southern Railroad car derailed or "picked a switch," as railroad personnel termed it, in Adrian around noon Thursday, leaving officials wondering how to upright the car. Initially, loaders were used to push the car upright, with the hope of releasing the tension between cars enough to uncouple the disabled car. Minnesota Southern was moving railroad cars down the lines all morning with no difficulties, according to officials. The errant car decided to follow the main line rather than route onto a sideline with the other railroad cars. Terming the derailment "one of those freak things," officials are unsure why the car "picked a switch." After permits were obtained Friday morning, a crane was used to lift the car upright. Until Thursday, no derailments had occurred on the line in more than 10 years, according to a railroad official at the scene.
Photo by Jolene Farley