NTSB Publishes Preliminary Report on Reeseville, WI Train Derailment

Today the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) published a preliminary report on the August 15^th, 2025, derailment of a key-train (94 hazmat cars). Twenty-four cars were derailed and two were punctured, leaking crude oil. No fires, injuries, or non-railroad damages were reported.

The PHMSA HAZMAT Incident Database report on this incident reports that five of the 23 railcars leaked; two from punctures and three from manways, due to bolts being less than tool tight:

GBRX 706564 - derailed upright with the B-end buried in mud. The tank shell was punctured close to the top and middle of the tank car, on the right side, B-end. Resulting release was estimated at 750 gallons. GBRX 706556 - derailed upright & underneath another tank car. The tank head was punctured close to the Brake handle on the B-end. Resulting release was estimated at 750 gallons.

GBRX 706217 - derailed on its right side, with the top of the tank car at roughly 3:00. The release occurred from the manway, where 3 of 8 manway bolts were less than tool tight. Resulting release was estimated at 5 gallons.

GBRX 706163 - derailed on its right side, with the top of the tank car at roughly 3:00. The release occurred from the manway, where 4 of 8 manway bolts were less than tool tight. Resulting release was estimated at 5 gallons.

GBRX 706067 derailed on its right side, with the top of the tank car at roughly 3:00. The release occurred from the manway, where 1 of 8 manway bolts were less than tool tight. Resulting release was estimated at 0.016 gallons.

Note: This incident had not been reported to PHMSA when I did my post “Transportation Chemical Incidents – Week of 8-9-25” on September 12^th, 2025.