PASCO — Railroad workers are cleaning up coal that spilled when 31 cars of a 125-car coal train derailed at the town of Mesa, about 20 miles north of the Tri-Cities.
Franklin County sheriff’s Lt. Ronelle Nelson says no one was injured and no buildings were damaged when the train derailed Monday evening.
It was carrying coal from Wyoming to a terminal at Delta, British Columbia.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe spokesman Gus Melonas says 50 workers using heavy equipment worked through the night to clear the track.
He says some priority trains will be able to roll through the area Tuesday afternoon on a siding, and the main line should reopen to all traffic by 8 p.m. Tuesday. About 30 trains a day travel through the area, including a Portland-Chicago Amtrak.
Check out the Tri-City Herald’s website for a photo of the derailment.
