Train derails, spills construction debris The accident in Castle Rock, Wash., damages two sets of tracks and causes delays

Friday, October 20, 2000

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KELSO, Wash. -- A Burlington Northern Sante Fe train carrying garbage derailed in Castle Rock early Thursday, spilling debris and damaging tracks used by Amtrak's passenger trains.

Amtrak used buses to transport an estimated 1,300 passengers traveling between Seattle and Eugene on Thursday, Amtrak spokeswoman Vernae Graham said. At midday, the buses leaving Amtrak's Seattle station were about an hour behind the normal train schedule.

The 58-car train from Seattle was heading to a landfill in Roosevelt, Wash., when 10 cars veered off the tracks, company spokesman Gus Melonas said. Six of the containers split open and scattered Sheetrock, lumber and other construction debris, he said.

The accident didn't injure anyone or cause any environmental harm, Castle Rock Fire Chief Kurt Stich said. But it damaged two sets of tracks traveled by Burlington Northern Sante Fe, Union Pacific and Amtrak, Melonas said.

Burlington Northern Sante Fe expects to have the tracks repaired and reopened by noon today. Until then, Burlington Northern Sante Fe is rerouting its trains through Stampede Pass, Stevens Pass and the Columbia River Gorge.

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-- Doris (reaper@pacifier.com), October 20, 2000