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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

CN trestle burns, collapses near I-Falls

Marshall Helmberger
Posted 5/27/15

ERICSBURG— A Canadian National trestle bridge south of International Falls caught fire and collapsed early Wednesday, burning several rail cars that were crossing on the bridge at the time.

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CN trestle burns, collapses near I-Falls

Posted

ERICSBURG— A Canadian National trestle bridge south of International Falls caught fire and collapsed early Wednesday, burning several rail cars that were crossing on the bridge at the time.

A southbound rail crew reported the fire shortly after midnight on Wednesday morning, according to Brent Kossey, a spokesperson for CN. The southbound train was rounding a curve just north of Ericsburg when the crew spotted the fire on the trestle that spans the Rat Root River. The crew attempted to stop the train, but much of it passed over the bridge before it finally halted, leaving three cars, all carrying potash, a non-flammable farm fertilizer, still on the burning bridge.

The trestle later fell into the river, and two of the cars fell along with it, although they appear to remain upright and intact.

The collapsed bridge severs one of the region’s most heavily-traveled rail lines, that passes between International Falls and the port of Duluth. International Falls Journal Editor Laurel Beager, who visited the scene of the accident on Wednesday said CN officials on the scene were discussing a prompt response to clear the wreckage away and install a temporary bridge, possibly within a day or two, in order to restore train traffic along the line as quickly as possible. CN officials could not confirm that plan prior to the Timberjay’s presstime.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Koochiching County Sheriff’s Office.

The Timberjay will have more information on this story as it develops, check www.timberjay.com for updates.