SEATTLE (AP) — Burlington Northern Santa Fe is clearing Western Washington railroad tracks covered by 22 mudslides between Sunday afternoon and noon Monday.
Spokesman Gus Melonas (mel-OWN’-us) says most occurred on the stretch of track between Seattle and Everett that runs along Puget Sound at the base of a bluff. The largest slide was 60 feet long and 8 feet deep.
Heavy rain over the weekend weakened steep slopes in Western Washington. Small slides also hit track south of Tacoma and in southwest Washington near Vancouver.
The state Transportation Department reported slides on two highways in Mason County and on a highway in Mukilteo.
BNSF has had the most mudslides in Western Washington this season in 15 years — at least 50 significant slides, which cause a 48-hour moratorium on passenger trains.
