11:51pm CT, Nov 13, 2021, BNSF Derailment because a Coal Train hit a Barge

(Satellite, it was north of this coal rail-to-barge facility.)

A train collides with a barge!

I quit noting derailments because there have been so many and because about the only "information" the railroad provides is that safety is there first priority and that there will be an investigation. And then I never see the results of the investigations. This derailment is noteworthy for two reasons. One is that it is a new failure mode. Instead of a missed signal, broken rail, broken wheelset, washed out track, landslide, etc., a barge got on the track. Two is that BNSF provided some useful information.

No one was hurt. In addition to coal, diesel fuel was spilled into the Mississippi river.

Dana B. Riney posted
I think a train hit a barge at Montrose IA
James P Riney

https://fb.watch/9h4EqJ-FMy/ [I do wish someone would teach this reporter to turn her phone sideways]

Denny Bramblett shared

Joe Harnish: Barge ran onto the ground. Dark territory and train hit it.

Denton Kunz: Had this happened in the spring when the river was flooded or in a month or 2 when the lake was frozen over, there might be an explanation, but this time of year I have no clue what happened.

Image courtesy of Chris Mills/Keokuk via PenCityCurrent
According to a release from BNSF:
“BNSF can confirm a coal train derailed after striking a barge that had turned sideways in the river with the nose of the barge on our main track near Montrose, IA around 11:51 pm CT Saturday. As a result, both lead locomotives and six cars derailed. Two of the rail cars are in the water, three partially in the water and one is upright.  As a precaution, our train crew was taken to the hospital for evaluation and released.  BNSF responders are on scene and have cleared the remaining 137 coal cars from the area. Our primary focus is to address any safety issues and securely remove any coal that may have ended up in the water.”
[The Iowa DNR stated that an unknown quantity of coal was spilled into the river. They haven't looked at any of the photos? I think it is safe to say that less than six carloads of coal was spilled into the river.]

It sounds like there was a runaway barge that ran aground. There are stretches where the track is very close to the river. For example:

Satellite

Bicki Slater posted, cropped
Train derailment last night! Thank goodness the crew is ok!!
Cheryl Printy Hawkins: I heard a barge ran ashore and caused this?
Vicki Slater: Cheryl Printy Hawkins yes, I imagine the wind was an issue for the barge. It ran up on the tracks and the train hit it. The sound was horrible!! Not much sleep in our house last night!! We live across the river!
 Just north of the coal terminal.
Tanner Stout shared

Update:

 Sep 17, 2022: 17:47 video discusses the NTSB report

safe_image for NTSB says probable cause of 2021 barge-train collision involved tow pilot and captain

This shows the information the crew would have seen if someone clicked the "!".

Workboat, Source: Southern Towing Co.