WEYAUWEGA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – March 4, 2021 marked the 25th anniversary of a train derailment in Waupaca County.
The train derailment happened on March 4, 1996 in Weyauwega. The train was carrying tanker cars filled with propane, and the danger of explosions forced the evacuations of nearly 2,000 people from their homes for close to three weeks.
25 years later, Judy Weisman who was Weyauwega’s Mayor at the time still remembers that day.
“We lived on 2nd Avenue just a couple blocks over there,” said Whisman during a commemoration gathering,” said Weisman.
25 years earlier, she recalled the story in a similar way, in an interview with Fox 11 from 1996.
Weisman said, “I could see it from my home because I only live two blocks away. I really thought the firemen would get there and put the fire out and we would all be back doing our normal thing by noon. Here we are 2 days alter and 5 days from now we still may not be back.”
Now, more than 9,000 days later people like Ronald Koehler are back. Remembering that day when he parked his car next to the tracks just minutes before the derailment.
“It started tilting in my direction so I thought maybe I should get out of here. So that’s when I set the record for the 100 yard dash making a run for the building.”
Everyone made it out alive and uninjured from the accident. Including Tom Cullen who was a firefighter at the time, and is now the Weyauwega Fire Chief.
“Everybody seeing that amount of fire in the area was unbelievable.” said Cullen.
Now that fire and accident is just a memory that Weyauwega is working to preserve.
“I guess it’s just an experience you never forget.” said Koehler.
The Weyauwega Arts Organization and Weyauwega Area Historical Society held the event at Cenex Co-op to honor the anniversary.
A documentary on this entire incident is currently in the works and is expected to be released next year.
