Crews repair tracks after train derailment

BNSF Railway crews were on the scene of a train derailment all day Wednesday as they worked to repair damage to the tracks.

A train traveling near the switching yard south of Fourth Plain Blvd. in Vancouver about 6 p.m. Tuesday sideswiped an idle train and caused several cars from both trains to derail.

Rail cars containing diesel fuel and denatured alcohol tipped over as a result of the accident but no fuel or chemicals spilled, according to Gus Melonas, a BNSF Railway spokesman.

One train was heading southbound when it started switching tracks and sideswiped the sitting train. An investigation is under way to determine how exactly the two cars made contact.

The switching yard, located between downtown Vancouver and Fruit Valley, is one of the BNSF’s larger regional facilities. BNSF’s Columbia Gorge route ends at Vancouver, and many trains are assembled here for trips north, south and east.

BNSF crews responded to the area about 3:45 a.m. and used cranes and other apparatus to lift the cars back onto the tracks.

That task was completed at about 7 a.m. They worked throughout the day to replace damaged rails and make adjustments to the tracks, Melonas said.

There was no interruption to the switching lines or mainline travel, Melonas said.

There were no injuries reported.