Amtrak train derails in Washington state, no injuries reported
The Associated Press
Mud, trees and rocks hit an Amtrak passenger train traveling through Washington state Sunday morning, causing several cars to derail, according to a railway spokesman.
There were no injuries reported in the mudslide that knocked off the dining car and two coach cars, the last three railcars on the train, said Gus Melonas, a spokesman for Burlington Northern Santa Fe, which owns the tracks.
The train was travelling south from Everett on the way to Seattle when the slide hit around 8:30 a.m., Melonas said. The train, known as the Empire Builder, started Friday in Chicago.
None of the 86 passengers or 11 crew members on board were injured, Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari confirmed.
The derailed cars were disconnected, and the passengers were taken to Mukilteo, Wash., where they were transferred to a bus bound for Seattle, according to BNSF and Amtrak.
The cause of the slide is under investigation by Amtrak and BNSF officials.
It was not immediately clear how long Amtrak passenger service would be affected, Magliari said.
Washington state has been plagued by mudslides this winter and spring, repeatedly closing tracks that carry Amtrak trains, plus freight and commuter lines.
The tracks were the Empire Builder was damaged were closed as recently as March 21, due to mudslides.
BNSF is working on solutions to stop mudslides in the area, Melonas said.
Sunday's slide fell about 100 feet down a slope and covered the tracks in debris about 30-feet-long and 15-feet-deep.
The BNSF is between a mudslide and the deep blue sea on this stretch of mostly double track mainline between Seattle and Everett. I hired out on the BN in Everett in 1973 and I remember times where a mudslide might hamper things during a winter but not "200"slides in one winter. Things are changing on this scenic 30 mile stretch of track. Its also like a main artery of the BNSF if it ever gets severed "permanently" it would really put a fuck into everything. I mentioned a couple times that the rainfall for 2012 was 60". Thats about 20" above normal. We are only about 5" above normal for 2013 which means all these cliffs running along 30 miles of raiload track with 40 or more "vibrating/pulsing/thundering" trains giving the "necessary nudge" to a failing cliffside. It would be nice to turn off the "moisture" and maybe the hill/cliffsides can recover but that doesnt appear possible looking at the next 7-day weather forecast. Gus has a job I never would want. Would say Gus has had to answer a lot of tough questions or transform a railroad fuckup into a news story that tells you what you want to know without instantly implying the railroad fucked up.
-- Edited by The Krink on Monday 8th of April 2013 11:43:10 PM
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If you are in a horror movie, you make bad decisions, its what you do.
Gus sez there's another lside, but he could be lying to keep passengers off his railroad....
SEATTLE
A railroad spokesman says there was another mudslide on Monday near the spot where an Amtrak train was derailed over the weekend.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe spokesman Gus Melonas says the slide came down around 11 a.m. on a stretch of track between Seattle and Everett. Melonas says the slide has stopped freight trains, but those are due back online later Monday. He says crews are cleaning the 10-foot deep slide that brought down trees, rock, and mud.
Monday's slide further expands a moratorium on passenger and commuter trains between Seattle and Everett. A new 48-hour moratorium starts on Monday.
Amtrak and Sound Transit officials say they will provide alternative means to their passengers.
On Sunday, a slide struck several Amtrak cars causing them derail. There were no injuries.
With the double track between Seattle and Everett it really has to be a significent slide to take out both tracks. Would have to say BNSF has had a lot of experience the past 4-5 months cleaning up these slides. It's "the story" of the coastline this winter going into spring. Has to be in the "unpresidented" in history dealing with a weather trend thats out to ruin current operations. Also not connected until I connected it, the GPNW experienced a couple small earthquakes early Sunday morning around the Sound. It might have aided in the last mudside. I know the BNSF has to be nervous about this line and all the slides.
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If you are in a horror movie, you make bad decisions, its what you do.
