PERHAM, Minn. — No injuries were reported when a BNSF Railway train carrying mixed freight derailed at approximately 12 a.m. today (Aug. 4) near Perham, Minn. No hazardous material was involved.
BNSF did not respond to a question regarding the number of cars involved; KEYC-TV reports 13 railcars, most of them empty auto racks, derailed. The Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office initially reported two grade crossings were closed as a result of the incident, but the railroad says those have reopened.
The accident site is approximately 5 miles northwest of Perham in Gorman Township, Minn., on the railroad’s Staples Subdivision. It is about 160 miles northwest of Minneapolis, and about 60 miles southeast of Fargo, N.D.
Amtrak’s Empire Builder was affected by the derailment, with the Amtrak Alerts social media feed reporting that passengers on the eastbound and westbound trains passing through the area this morning were provided with alternate transportation between Detroit Lakes and Staples, Minn. Eastbound No. 8 is currently shown on Amtrak’s app as due in Chicago at 11:12 p.m., about 6 1/2 hours late, while westbound No. 7 is currently shown as due at Fargo, N.D., at 2:42 p.m., more than 10 hours late.
— Updated at 1:55 p.m. with additional Empire Builder information; updated at 8:55 p.m. with number of cars involved.
