DUNSMUIR, Calif. — A southbound Union Pacific Railroad grain train derailed Sunday evening on the Cantara Loop near Dunsmuir.
Update: Action News Now received a email from Union Pacific forwarded to Siskiyou News: “Thank you for reaching out to Union Pacific. Below is information on this incident: At about 10:30 p.m. local time Sunday, approximately 19 rail cars on a Union Pacific train derailed in Dunsmuir, California, west of Interstate 5. No one was hurt and nothing was spilled. Cleanup is underway and the cause is under investigation.”
Three loaded grain hopper cars tipped onto their sides others jumped the track. Each car weighs approximately 255,000 pounds (more than 100 tons) and will require heavy specialized equipment to lift and re-rail them.
The Cantara Loop — a sharp curve along the Sacramento River in the scenic but challenging Sacramento River Canyon — has a long and troubled history of derailments. It gained national attention in 1991 after a Southern Pacific train derailment caused a massive metam sodium chemical spill that devastated aquatic life for miles downstream to Lake Shasta.
In this latest incident, no injuries have been reported and there are no indications of hazardous materials leaking into the river. Rail traffic in the area is disrupted while crews work to clear the scene.
This is a developing story. Siskiyou News will provide updates as recovery efforts continue and more information becomes available from Union Pacific Railroad and local authorities.
🚨 BREAKING: Grain Train Derails at Historic Cantara Loop Near Dunsmuir
— Siskiyou.News (@SisqNews) March 3, 2026
A southbound Union Pacific grain train left the tracks Sunday evening on the Cantara Loop. Three loaded cars (each weighing ~255,000 lbs / 100+ tons) are now on their sides and will need heavy equipment to be… pic.twitter.com/8tqxCbpe17
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Thank you for this article!