PINECLIFFE, Colo. — Fifteen cars of a BNSF freight train derailed early today (Sunday, Nov. 12) in the Rocky Mountain foothills west of Denver, leading to a closure expected to block Union Pacific’s main line for 36 hours, according to preliminary estimates.
KCNC-TV reports the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office was informed of the derailment at 6:49 a.m., and that UP had offered the initial estimate of the closure to the sheriff’s office.
A 78-car train was involved; the derailed cars — eight of which remained upright while seven overturned — were either empty or carrying diesel fuel or magnesium. No fuels, leaks, or injuries were reported, according to the Timberline Fire Protection District.
The derailment has disrupted operations for both directions of Amtrak’s California Zephyr. A note on the “Train Status” feature of the Amtrak website says eastbound No. 6 was being held in Grand Junction, Colo., as of 10:49 a.m. MT because of the derailment; while westbound No. 5 was being held at Denver as of 9:30 a.m. MT. “A lengthy delay is anticipated, and we will provide an update as more information becomes available,” according to the note for No. 5. Amtrak no longer provides regular updates for long-distance issues on its Amtrak Alerts social media feed, so additional details are not available.
— Updated at 3:30 p.m. CST with correction of report from sheriff’s office regarding railroad whose train was involved.
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