JUNE 11, 2025 |
Photo – Train derailment – By Matt Copeland Bigfoot99
Workers continued to clean up the scene of Monday’s train derailment near Walcott Junction.
On Monday morning around 9:00 a.m., two Union Pacific trains traveling in opposite directions derailed north of Walcott Junction. Several cars came off the tracks, including multiple loaded tanker cars. Fortunately, despite rupturing, the tankers did not cause a fire. The train tracks remained closed in both directions while crews work to repair the damage.
Bigfoot99 reached out to Union Pacific for more information about the incident. A representative explained that by Tuesday morning, all the damaged rail cars had been removed from the track and placed near the site. Union Pacific crews were still working to reopen the tracks, though the representative could not provide an estimated timeline. However, trains were running through Hanna by yesterday afternoon.
Unconfirmed reports suggested the derailment occurred when a train car’s wheel bearing failed, causing the car to leave the tracks just as another train was traveling in the opposite direction. The Union Pacific representative did not confirm or deny the allegation.
Instead, the U.P. representative wrote that the incident remains under investigation. Once all the facts are established, Union Pacific will file a report with the Federal Railroad Administration. The federal agency is responsible for determining the official cause of the derailment, which may take up to six months.
Bigfoot99 will continue to investigate and provide updates as new information becomes available.
