Train carrying corn derailed

Forty years ago today, a train derailed in Jay County.

The Nov. 20, 1978, edition of The Commercial Review featured three photos from the train derailment that occurred a day earlier.

A Norfolk and Western Railroad train derailed at the crossing of county road 203 — now county road 600 East — about a mile and a half south of Bellefountain in Noble Township. The wreckage totaled 24 cars, which required several days of cleanup by heavy equipment crews from Lima, Ohio.

Indiana State Police officials said a burned out wheel bearing caused the derailment of the cars, which were loaded with corn, about 7:40 a.m. Nov. 19, 1978. The 96-car grain train had been traveling from Frankfort to Lima.

As a result of the derailment, twisted cars and spilled corn were scattered on land owned by Halter Heidegger on the north side of the tracks and Dale Pearson on the south side.

The crossing had been opened to traffic in the late afternoon following the derailment.

No estimate of damage was available from Norfolk & Western Railroad, which had its headquarters in Muncie.