Train carrying corn derails near Campion Boat Landing

Three railroad cars owned by Avalon Grain, of Madison, derailed and a fourth was damaged near the Campion Boat Landing in Prairie du Chien Sunday, Aug. 30, between 5 and 6 p.m. The train was headed to Mexico and carrying around 4,000 bushels of corn per car. According to a local grain authority, the current going rate for corn is $3.60 per bushel­—meaning a potential loss of more than $50,000 in corn alone. The train was traveling on Wisconsin & Southern Railroad track, about to switch to Burlington Northern Santa Fe track, at the time of the derailment. A witness said there were about a dozen people who saw the cars fall over as the train was moving at a relatively slow speed. “The noise was deafening. It was kinda scary. Everybody got away from the tracks,” said the witness, who did not want to be identified. The derailment caused a big hole next to the tracks. Afterward, several people took photos and milled about until shooed away by members of the Prairie du Chien Police Department. One section of the train that did not derail was driven north. Another section was later taken south. The train and its contents are not affiliated with any Prairie du Chien area company. (Photos by Gary Howe)