Trains get in fender bender
BURLINGTON Northern-Santa Fe Railway workers inspect the site of a collision between two slow-moving freight trains Thursday afternoon near West Glacier. The wheels on the lead westbound engine came off the track, but no injuries were reported. Karen Nichols photos/Daily Inter Lake
The Daily Inter Lake
Two slow-moving freight trains collided near West Glacier on Thursday afternoon, but the impact caused little damage and there were no injuries.
Gus Melonas, a spokesman for Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railway, said the collision happened at 2:30 p.m. and the tracks were expected to be reopened by Thursday evening.
The crash involved an eastbound train, traveling from Seattle to Chicago, with three locomotives and 71 container cars, and a westbound train traveling from Chicago to Portland with three locomotives and 57 container cars.
The eastbound train was crossing from the main rail line to a siding track when it was struck by the westbound train.
"The westbound train made impact at a slow rate of speed," Melonas said. "No cars were derailed on the train that was crossing over. However, the wheels on the lead engine were off the track."
A mechanical crew from Whitefish was dispatched to rerail the locomotive.
"We have not determined the cause at this point. The cause is under investigation," Melonas said. "There are no hazardous materials involved and no injuries."
Also responding to the collision were the Columbia Falls Ambulance and the Coram Fire Department.