The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a ruptured natural gas pipeline that exploded into dramatic flames Sunday, stopping a Union Pacific Railroad train carrying hazardous materials in its tracks west of Cheyenne.

Just after 1 a.m. near mile marker 350 on Interstate 80, the explosion and large fire could be seen as far as 60 miles away, prompting a flood of emergency calls.

The fire broke out near the same location as a Union Pacific train, leading some callers to report that the train itself was ablaze.

Union Pacific spokesman Mike Jaixen said in an email Monday that the train halted about 40 feet from the rupture.

“The heat from the fire made it too dangerous to operate over the track,” Jaixen said. “There was no derailment and no one was hurt.”

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