BONNERS FERRY, Idaho — A BNSF Railway crew was briefly trapped inside a partially-submerged locomotive following a derailment in northern Idaho Wednesday night.
BNSF spokesperson Gus Melonas tells Trains News Wire that a westbound manifest freight train derailed at about 8:50 p.m. near Katka, about 10 miles east of Bonners Ferry, on the Kootenai River Subdivision. Three locomotives and six cars went off the rails.
The lead locomotive landed in the Kootenai River and the crew was trapped inside for about 2 hours until first responders were able to rig up a rope system to bring them to safety. A swift water rescue team was also dispatched from Kalispell, Mont., but was ultimately not needed. The team, Two Bear Air, posted a night vision video of the wreck online.
“The crew is safe and they were not injured,” Melonas says.
BNSF crews deployed containment booms around the wreck because fuel from the lead locomotive has leaked into the river.
Melonas says the cause of the wreck remains under investigation but the initial report suggests the train struck a rock slide.
The derailment has all but shut down BNSF’s main line to the Pacific Northwest and some trains are now being reroute over Montana Rail Link. Amtrak’s westbound Empire Builder on Wednesday night made it to Libby, Mont., before being brought back to Whitefish. Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari says Empire Builder service in the area has been replaced with chartered buses.
Melonas says it’s unclear how long it will take to clear the derailment and reopen the route.
Way to hang in there, brothers! Often thought it would be nice to have the option of “blowing the canopy” and “punching out” in situations like that. Engines don’t float too long!
Mr. Korn, Thank goodness your son was not involved. I hope that the crew who was involved is ok. I guarantee you that they will suffer after effects (PTSD) as a result, even if they don’t yet realize it. If you know them, or even if you don’t, I encourage you to reach out to them. It helps more than you think it will.
Fortunately nobody was injured. That is good. Those units will have to be rebuilt though. I didn’t see any signs of track damage although I am sure they will be inspecting and repairing the line. And I find it probable that the rockslide had just happened when they came upon it.
The above comments are generic in nature and do not form the basis for an attorney/client relationship. They do not constitute legal advice. I am not attorney. May I see your passport please?
Forgot to mention that he e-mailed us that he wasn’t involved so we wouldn’t worry. Will talk to him when he gets back home.
Thank God it wasn’t my son’s run! He was in Pasco when it happened although he knows the crew members involved. Good chance I also know them.
I am retired BNSF from Northtown (Minneapolis) and glad that the two crew members are OK. Things happen in the real world of railroading that non-railroaders don’t understand. In the 1960’s an eastbound North Coast Limited hit a large boulder on the tracks west of Glendive, Montana causing a derailment. Luckily, the adjacent river was frozen over and the baggage car from the train landed on the ice surface of the frozen river.
Retired NP-BN-BNSF clerk from Northtown.
I just watched the video. I’m trying to figure out what would cause the train to take a sharp right turn off the tracks like that.
Braden, Braden, Braden………once again, my friend….you’ve got me smackin’ my head! What’s the point of a slide fence? To notify the crew of a rock slide, right? How? It’s tied into the signalling system & if no system exists it has its own signal(s). Most slide fences also are tied into an automated radio broadcast message when tripped….but I digress……if the signal system goes red due to a rock slide, what else happens? The PTC system…..which is tied into the signal system…..will suddenly display a red hash box on the screen & force the train into restricted speed. Looks like somebody already got “the bright idea to tie in slide fence detection with PTC”……
Slide fences are continuous. But sometimes slides happen just that fast.
How long before somebody finally gets the bright idea to tie in slide fence detection with PTC. Then again.. Are there any slide fences in the area?
From looking at the night vision & infer red video the train did hit a good size rock slide. You can see it on the right side of the tank car behind the third engine. Heck of a way to wash the locomotive.