Dehydrated Potato Flakes blamed for derailment

Union Pacific says the dehydrated potato flakes it was hauling caused a costly derailment at its biggest railyard because Idahoan Foods did not properly clean the wheels of its freight cars.

Union Pacific sued Idahoan Foods for nearly $242,000 in damages it says the derailment caused in February 2009. The lawsuit was moved to federal court on Tuesday.

The Omaha-based railroad says potato flakes stuck on the wheels of railcars that Idahoan Foods loaded had rendered the North Platte rail yard's braking system ineffective.