WEST ALLIS - Defective or missing ties on the tracks caused a coal train to derail in 2017, raining coal down onto Greenfield Avenue from the railroad bridge, according to a report to the Federal Railroad Administration from Union Pacific railroad.
The 145-car train derailed near 105th Street with five of the loaded derailed cars on the bridge over busy Greenfield Avenue.
The train was headed north when the poor tie conditions caused 21 loaded coal cars to derail, the report said.
The derailment caused nearly $1.12 million in damage, the railroad estimates. Equipment damage was put at $684,510 and track damage at $480,686.
Greenfield Avenue was closed to traffic after the derailment that happened about 5:20 p.m. Thursday, July 6.
“A couple residents said their houses shook” when the train derailed, Michael May, one of two aldermen for the area of West Allis where the incident occurred, said at the time.
Power also was knocked out to about 1,000 homes and businesses west of the derailment.