Workers with BNSF Railway continued to work throughout the day Tuesday after a train derailment sent five railcars off the tracks and into a ravine near the Big Blue River.

 The derailment occurred Sunday about four miles northwest of Beatrice at 7:10 a.m., according to Steve Forsberg, a spokesman for BNSF Railway.

Only five cars, the 31st through 35th car, of the 110-car train were derailed. The cars left the track while on a 205-foot wood trestle that crossed over the river. All five of the derailed cars, which were loaded with corn, went into the ravine, but were not in the water.

“We brought in what is called a vacuum truck to unload the derailed cars on site, to (load the corn) into either trucks or other rail cars, so we would be able to pick up the empty rail cars in the ravine,” Forsberg said. “The head end of the train, the first 30 cars, were cut away and allowed to proceed to their destination. The Beatrice ...  Co-op had a switch engine that was used to pull the rear of the train away from the five derailed cars.”

Forsberg said the remaining cars won’t be moved from the location until the track is repaired. He said BNSF crews will work continuously until the repairs are completed.

As of Tuesday afternoon, two of the cars had been lifted back onto the tracks.

The cause of derailment remains under investigation.

“There are generally three categories for cause of any derailment,” Forsberg said. “An issue with one of the cars, problem with the track or an issue with how the train is being handled. In this case, no determination has been made.”

According to BNSF records, the train was moving at a low speed, around 9 miles per hour, at the time of derailment.

An empty railcar typically weights approximately 60,000 pounds. Forsberg said a car full of grain will typically weigh more than 200,000 pounds.

There were no injuries reported in the derailment.