BNSF Railway's trackage into Birmingham, Alabama was restored by Friday afternoon following a 31-car derailment on Wednesday at 22:15 CST.

The derailment involved BNSF merchandise train M-MEMBIR1-24, enroute to Birmingham from Memphis, Tennessee, and blocked the single track mainline in Jasper, Alabama. According to Joe Faust, BNSF spokesman, the derailed cars were either carrying steel, lumber, ash or were empty. Faust said the cause of the derailment remains under investigation.

Several homes on streets that parallel the railroad at the crash site were untouched. However, some cars came as close as an estimated 50 yards to a few houses and caused some minor grounds damage, according to officials at the scene.

Much of the cleanup centered on a bridge that crosses above Third Avenue. Faust said there was extensive damage done to the bridge and many of the concrete panels that make up its length had to be rebuilt.