BNSF Railway is working to clean up a pair of derailments that occurred early today (Saturday, July 20). No injuries or hazardous materials situations resulted from either.
The first was reported at approximately 12:46 a.m. near Ottawa, Kan., on BNSF’s Emporia Subdivision, blocking both main tracks. The only cargo spilled was a large amount of corn, according to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. A photo from the Sheriff’s Office shows cleanup in progress for a significant but undetermined number of derailed cars. An updated BNSF customer advisory estimated one track of the main line would be reopened by 7:30 a.m. Sunday and the second track by 9:30 a.m.
The second was reported at approximately 3:16 a.m. at Big Lake, Minn., 46 rail miles west of St. Paul, Minn., on the railroad’s Staples Subdivision. The Shelburne County Sheriff’s Office reports on Facebook that 15 cars were involved; images from the scene show an intermodal train was involved. The railroad’s advisory to customers estimates one track will be reopened at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, and the second at approximately 7:30 p.m.
The derailment led to a detour for today’s eastbound Empire Builder through Willmar, Minn.; the train departed St. Paul, Minn., at 3:22 p.m., 6 hours, 32 minutes late, and was 6 hours, 46 minutes late as of its stop at Wisconsin Dells, Wis., at 7:44 p.m. The train status tool on Amtrak.com says the westbound Builder that departed Chicago today is currently projected to make a similar detour, leading to a delay of up to 4 hours.
— Updated July 21 at 9:10 a.m. with estimated reopening of main line at site of Ottawa derailment.
A bad weekend for derailments on the BNSF railway ??
Empire Builder used to operate through Willmar, 6 hour delay seems excessive but maybe the line has been downgraded.
“the (Builder) departed St. Paul, Minn., at 3:22 p.m., 6 hours, 32 minutes late, and was 6 hours, 46 minutes late as of its stop at Wisconsin Dells, Wis., at 7:44 p.m.”
My math says they lost a whopping sixteen minutes on the detour.
Well well welll… derailments are down the major class ones say. No way says I. I see it every day equipment is falling apart track structure is in horrible shape. Still haven’t heard what happened at Lipton so it’s almost certainly their fault since if it was train crew they’d let us know the blame that second. If the general public only knew what’s happening behind closed doors they’d S$&T……