HAVRE, Mont. — Eleven cars of a 25-car BNSF intermodal train derailed Friday afternoon about 8 miles east of Havre, blocking the railroad’s Northern Transcon route.
The derailment occurred at 4:39 p.m., the Havre Daily News reports, quoting a BNSF spokeswoman. Hill County Disaster and Emergency Services Coordinator Amanda Frickel said one car was carrying a hazardous material — paint thinner — but no leaks were reported. No injuries were reported.
The Amtrak Alerts Twitter feed indicates the westbound Empire Builder had passed through the area shortly before the derailment, as it arrived at Havre at 4:15 p.m., then was delayed for more than four hours “due to mechanical issues.” The eastbound train had already passed through the area. The Amtrak website currently shows today’s eastbound and westbound trains scheduled to operate normally.
It seems the old Burlington Northern derailment curse (“Green & White and goes bump in the night”) seems to continue to afflict the BNSF Railway.
A 25-car train? That’s curiously short in this era of PSR.
I’m sorry but I don’t really think a mother nature event should count as a derailment.
With the cause of the derailment was under investigation, the cleanup and repair work by the BNSF Railway crews continued Saturday as the line was reopened to service.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
This accident comes less than a month after a railroad bridge collapse in southern Montana sent tanks cars with oil products plunging into the Yellowstone River, spilling molten sulfur and up to 250 tons of hot asphalt.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
“You thought that it could never happen this often
To all the large freight railroads that you became
Your history lost in legend, the negligence so very tame
But here, right here,
Between the valley and the mountain
Between the bridge and the tunnel
Between the boxcar and the tank car
Between the wheel and the rail
Once again, once again
Derailment calls you by your name.”
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
The former MRL bridge over the Yellowstone River is still being replaced as well. Armchair perspective, but I took a look at some historical photos of that center pier that failed and it had been in not so great shape for a few years. A large amount of rebar was exposed where the span came down.
Not a great day for BNSF Intermodal, between this mishap and the Oklahoma derailment of a JB Hunt train.