March 1, 1969
Vidette Messenger
None Hurt In Derailment
Rensselaer, Ind.—Ten cars, including a tanker
filled with sulphuric acid and another with
chloroform, derailed in a Monon Railroad freight
train early today near the Rensselaer station.
The derailment occurred on a curve as the 105
car train traveled south at about 40 miles per
hour. None of the five-member crew from
Lafayette was hurt.
The acid tanker ruptured in the accident, but
although there was an acrid odor in the air
from the fumes, they were not considered
harmful and residents remained in their nearby
homes.
The chloroform tanker did not break open.
Crews began clearing the wreckage and expected
to repair the damage by late tonight.
Investigators said a burned journal on the car
containing the acid was believed responsible
for the derailment of the cars in the middle
of the train.
