(The following story by Gaye Brown de Alvarez appeared on the Gallup Independent website on November 12.)
GALLUP, N.M. — Twenty rail cars went off the tracks at the Gallup switching station Monday.
According to Joe Faust, spokesman for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, the derailing was “a minor incident” and did not impact rail traffic on the main line.
His information from Train Master Felipe Medina in Gallup, indicated the the cars derailed “upright and there were no injuries or spills of hazardous materials of any kind.”
Faust said in a telephone interview, that there was absolutely no impact on the main-line operation out of Gallup and the rail cars were carrying “mixed freight” which is considered “a combination of consumer products and other items.”
The cars were re-railed early Tuesday, and sent on their way.