BALFOUR, N.D. – A pusher-locomotive and 24 cars at the end of a freight train skipped the rails and piled up on the Canadian Pacific mainline from Moosejaw, Saskatchewan, through North Dakota into Minnesota. In a statement from CP headquarters in Calgary, the railroad confirmed that three cars were carrying hazardous contents — lithium batteries, airbags and small drums of methanol — but said nothing leaked. There was a fire, but McHenry County Sheriff Trey Skager said firefighters put it out quickly. Diesel fuel from the derailed pusher-locomotive was recovered with no leaks, the railroad said. Pusher-locomotives being remote controlled, there were no train-board injuries. “There is no threat to the environment and no risk to public safety,” the railroad said. The derailment was about 5:15 p.m. south of Balfour, population 20, halfway to Lake Bronson State Park, which is in short-grass flatlands 40 miles southeast of Minot.
Containers every which way. Explosive cargo included lithium batteries, airbags and drums of methanol. Image: McHenry County Sheriff