Canadian National collision, Two Harbors MN Sept 2010

September 2010: Fatigue and Cell Phone Use contributed to a Collision Between Two Freight Trains causing $8.1M Physical Damage

On September 30, 2010, at 4:05 p.m., a southbound Canadian National Railway freight train collided head on with a northbound Canadian National Railway freight train near Two Harbors, Minnesota.  As a result of the accident, three locomotives and 14 railcars derailed sending five crewmembers to the hospital with injuries. At the time of the accident, the trains were operating in non-signaled territory and the southbound train did not have authority to operate on the single main track. 

The Canadian National Railway estimated damages at $8.1 million. An NTSB investigation revealed several probable causes including, but not limited to, fatigue and the use of cell phones by crewmembers on both trains.