August 20, 2025

R. J. Corman Emergency Divisions Respond to Largest Derailment in U.S. History Following Severe Weather Event

R. J. Corman Railroad Services’ Emergency Divisions successfully completed recovery operations for BNSF after a severe weather event on June 21, 2025, in North Dakota. A derecho, with peak winds measured at 99 miles per hour and accompanied by a tornado, blew over 832 empty hopper cars that had been stored for the fall harvest. The event is now known as the single largest derailment in the history of the United States.

Field operations were completed on July 11, 2025. The company deployed 26 personnel from its Fargo, Wichita, and St. Louis divisions, supported by crawler booms, sidebooms, and track hoes. Crews worked in hot and humid conditions to safely and efficiently complete the recovery, re-rail, and complete truck rebuilds on 412 cars and support restoration activities.

The response focused on asset protection, safety, and schedule certainty. The team adjusted rigging approaches during rerailing to prevent car damage and coordinated closely with the railroad to rebuild truck sets to a standard designed to eliminate the need for rework. Supervisory teams resolved field issues quickly to maintain momentum without compromising safety protocols. Officials from our Class I clients expressed appreciation for the team’s performance and responsiveness throughout the operation.

This recovery project highlights R. J. Corman’s commitment to delivering safe, timely, and customer-focused emergency response services across the nation.