Federal Railroad Administration says 2015 Wisconsin ethanol derailment likely due to crew fatigue

In Washington, the Federal Railroad Administration has determined that crew fatigue may have led to a BNSF train derailment on the morning of Nov. 17, 2015 when 25 cars jumped the track near Alma, Wisc. and spilled more than 20,000 gallons of ethanol. Heavier-loaded cars were behind empty cars in the 112-car train, so when brakes were hit too quickly, the heavier cars pushed up behind the empty ones and forced them off the track.