MINNEAPOLIS — A Canadian Pacific train derailed Sunday, blocking the railroad’s former Soo Line main line west of Minneapolis. CP Train 498 derailed at milepost 11.2 on the Paynesville Subdivision in the Minneapolis suburb of Plymouth at Control Point Heney, just east of Interstate 494. The Paynesville Subdivision is CP’s main artery from western Canada to the Twin Cities and Chicago. Train 498 was on the last lap of its run from Calgary to CP’s ex-Milwaukee Road St. Paul Yard.
“At approximately 12:45 p.m. local time, a CP freight train derailed in Plymouth, Minn. at Northwest Boulevard near Schmidt Lake Road,” CP spokesman Andy Cummings said. “Initial reports are that 22 cars derailed. The derailed cars were carrying lumber, asphalt and sulphur. There are no known leaks at this time. There were no injuries to the crew. CP officials are on scene and are working closely with local police and fire in responding to this incident. The cause of the derailment is under investigation.”
The City of Plymouth said CP has been monitoring the air quality and has not obtained any unusual readings, and that a hazmat team will remain at the scene 24/7 until the site has been restored. The line reopened about 9 a.m. Monday, as CP intermodal train 199 became the first to pass through the derailment site as cleanup work continues.
This wasn’t the first derailment at this location. On June 25, 2020, two grain cars on CP train 382 derailed upright from a sun kink near the same spot.
Just another day, just another derail. Somewhere, someone is counting. Is this normal?
Here is some drone video of the derailment taken before the flight restriction was put in place. https://youtu.be/iiw5i7kuCUg