News & Reviews News Wire BNSF train derails, catches fire in North Dakota (updated)

BNSF train derails, catches fire in North Dakota (updated)

By Trains Staff | May 2, 2022

| Last updated on March 16, 2024

Firefighters have difficulty reaching scene, turn to National Guard for help

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Black smoke rising from fire at train derailment
A derailment and fire closed BNSF’s main line west of Minot on Sunday. North Dakota Highway Patrol

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.

2 thoughts on “BNSF train derails, catches fire in North Dakota (updated)

    1. 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.

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