COOK- Fourteen rail cars of a northbound Canadian National freight train derailed Saturday night about seven miles north of Cook.
The 123-car CN train was traveling through a remote area at about 7:47 p.m. Saturday when 14 cars near the end of the train left the tracks, with some of the rail cars tipping over on their sides. Some of the cars contained hazardous materials, but a St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office press release issued about seven hours after the incident confirmed there were no leaks or spills. No one was injured.
Contacted Monday by the Timberjay, a CN spokesperson confirmed that train traffic had resumed at the site of the incident, and that there is no danger to public safety. CN crews were expected to be on site for several days to remove the remaining rail cars.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
Train derailments are more common than generally known. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics, there are on average about 1,700 derailments per year in the U.S., a little over four per day.
St. Louis County Emergency Management assisted with the initial response to the accident.