BURLINGTON, N.D. — Fifteen cars of a BNSF Railway intermodal train derailed early Sunday near Burlington, with some cars catching fire, closing the railroad’s Glasgow Subdivision main line just west of Minot, N.D.
KMOT-TV reports that while the derailment occurred about 1 a.m., as of 3:15 p.m., the fire was still burning because firefighters were facing difficulties in reaching the scene, with fire trucks becoming stuck in mud while en route. A North Dakota National Guard helicopter was dispatched to help fight the fire.
KFYR-TV reports the line reopened about 2:30 a.m. Monday. Cleanup is continuing.
BNSF said in a statement that the containers involved carried paper products and frozen foods, and that cars with containers carrying hazardous material had not derailed and had been removed from the scene. No injuries were reported.
The derailment and fire led to cancellation of both directions of Amtrak’s Empire Builder on Sunday between Minot and Shelby, Mont.
— Updated at 7:50 p.m. CDT with line reopening.
Photos show spine cars and a curve. First thought is Stringlining.
The derailed cars were on the outside of the curve. String-lining would be on the inside of the curve.
Whatever the initial cause of the derailment, buff forces would continue to push cars off to the outside of the curve until the rear cars stopped.