This information is preliminary and subject to change.
On August 15, 2025, about 2:01 p.m. local time, eastbound Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway (CPKC) mixed freight train 540-462 derailed 24 railcars that were carrying hazardous materials while traveling on main track 1 of the CPKC Watertown Subdivision near milepost (MP) 141.8, in Reeseville, Wisconsin.[1] No injuries or evacuations were reported. CPKC estimated the damages to be $3,634,183. Visibility conditions at the time of the accident were clear with no precipitation; the temperature was 85°F.
Train 540-462 was a key train composed of 2 locomotives and 96 railcars (94 contained hazardous materials and 2 were loaded railcars that served as buffers at the front and rear of the train.[ 2]) The crew of train 540-462 consisted of one engineer and one conductor. The train was carrying petroleum crude oil and traveling at 43 mph when it experienced a train-initiated emergency braking application.[3] The subsequent inspection by the conductor revealed that some of the railcars on the train had derailed. The conductor contacted CPKC Dispatch, located in Kansas City, Missouri, by radio, and the dispatcher reached out to local emergency services to respond to the accident site. Of the 24 railcars that derailed, 2 were mechanically breached and an undetermined quantity of crude oil was released.[4]
While on scene, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators inspected the head-end locomotive, the rear distributed power unit locomotive, and railcars; requested surveillance footage from a nearby property; requested event recorder data; and completed interviews.
The investigation is ongoing. Future investigative activity will focus on CPKC’s railroad operations, rail infrastructure, and railcar maintenance and inspection procedures, including detailed tank car damage assessments and a review of the past performance of tank cars of similar design standard.
Parties to the investigation include:
- the Federal Railroad Administration;
- the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration;
- Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway;
- the Greenbrier Companies;
- the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen;
- the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers; and
- the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division.[5]
[1] (a) All times are local time. (b) Petroleum crude oil (UN 1267 Packing Group II) is classified as a
flammable liquid (Hazard Class 3). (c) The Watertown Subdivision begins at MP 87.1 and ends at
MP 180.4. The Watertown Subdivision consists of double main track areas and single main track with
passing sidings.
[2] (a) A key train is defined in federal regulations as a train with any one of the following
components: at least one tank car containing anhydrous ammonia, ammonia solutions, or material designated as a poison or toxic inhalation hazard; 20 railcar loads of any combination of hazardous material; or one or more railcar loads of spent nuclear fuel or radioactive waste. (b) The buffer cars were loaded with rock pebbles.
[3] The subdivision is mixed with passenger and freight service at Federal Railroad Administration
Class 4 speeds of 79 mph passenger and 60 mph freight, in an east/west timetable direction as noted in the CPKC US Eastern Region Timetable number 1.
[4] A mechanical breach occurs when a railcar is punctured due to impact from other railcars, rail
components, or other objects.
[5] (a) Greenbrier specializes in transportation services, with a focus on freight railcar manufacturing, railcar refurbishment, and railcar leasing and management. (b) The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division spells employees with one final e.
