Deadwood Train Wreck of 2025

On February 20th, 2025, a Pine Island and Bridgewater Railway (PIBR) ballast rock train collided with a New Territories Highway Patrol squad car on the New Territories Route 20 grade crossing in Deadwood. The collision resulted in a fire and fuel explosion which significantly damaged the road and railroad infrastructure, as well as some nearby buildings.

Collision

The site of the collision as of November 7th, 2025. The hotel which caught fire is seen in the background.

PIBR X130 was transporting ballast across the New Territories railroad system. This train did not have a set destination, rather it was being run for acceptance testing of new rolling stock. At the time of the collision, the train was operating on the Ashwood Southeastern Railroad (ASER) Sierra Subdivision.

This uncommon train operation, a PIBR train running on ASER trackage, had attracted the attention of many New Territories railroad enthusiasts. One such railroad enthusiast, who had previously been filming the train with a tripod-mounted camcorder, decided to climb onto one of the ballast cars in order to ride the train. This enthusiast rode the train for much of its trip; he managed to attract the attention of a New Territories Highway Patrolman in the town of Fauntleroy. The patrolman attempted to apprehend the enthusiast by shooting snowballs, eggs, and arrows at him. His efforts were in vain.

As the train entered the ASER and approached Deadwood, the patrolman attempted to alert the train crew to stop by parking his squad car on the tracks in Deadwood. The train, approaching the squad car on a blind corner, failed to see it in enough time to stop. Despite an application of full service braking, the train struck the squad car at approximately 15mph. The car immediately erupted into flames which spread to the train's lead locomotive and vegetation around the crossing. The PIBR train crew bailed out of the train, but not before the conductor received severe burns. Moments after the crew members escaped, the wreckage of the squad car exploded, leaving a crater in the road and railroad tracks. Meanwhile, the fire spread to a nearby hotel, prompting its evacuation. The Sterry-Deadwood Fire Protection District (STDFPD) responded and contained the fire within two hours.

Investigation and Aftermath

The PIBR, ASER, and New Territories Highway Patrol launched a joint investigation into the incident. The PIBR and ASER were not found at fault for the incident, as the patrolman deliberately parked on the tracks and the active warning devices at the road crossing were functioning properly at the time of the collision.

The suspect on the train was never identified, but was pre-cleared of any wrongdoing for the incident.

The PIBR, ASER, City of Deadwood, and damaged hotel all filed suit against the New Territories Highway Patrol for the damages incurred; PIBR for the medical bills of X130's conductor and the lead locomotive of the train which was deemed a total loss, ASER for the damage to track and signal equipment, the City of Deadwood for damaged vegetation and sidewalks, and the hotel for damage to their property. The case was settled with 2,100,000E$ awarded to the PIBR conductor, 900,000E$ awarded to PIBR for loss of their locomotive, 650,000E$ awarded to ASER for equipment damage, 520,000E$ awarded to the hotel for repairs and lost business, and 90,000E$ awarded to the City of Deadwood for sidewalk repairs and vegetation replacement. NTDOT also received an interagency funds transfer from the Highway Patrol for damage to the national highway infrastructure, including pavement and street lighting. This payment totaled 70,070E$. The New Territories Highway Patrol was placed in deep financial instability due to this payout, and was forced to fire 17 patrolmen to compensate. An expanded speed camera program on national highways partially offset the loss in traffic enforcement patrolmen.

The nearby hotel was repaired and reopened some months after the incident.