(The following story by Foss Farrar appeared on the Arkansas City Traveler website on April 29, 2009.)
ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — Flooding has caused a washout of railroad track north of Winfield, resulting in detours of freight traffic, sources at BNSF Railway said.
BNSF is telling customers that their shipments may be delayed 12 to 24 hours, said BNSF spokesman Steve Forsberg.
The washout was reported at 12:50 p.m. Tuesday, Forsberg said.
Track supervisor Mike Sanderholm said today that crews are monitoring the site. It is three miles north of Winfield near 132nd Road (Cowley 18).
132nd Road, between U.S. 77 and the Udall shortcut road, also is closed due to flooding, said Bob Frazee, emergency management coordinator for Arkansas City.
BNSF employees are monitoring the site until the high water, apparently caused by flooding of the Walnut River, subsides.
The track should be clear for regular service by 5 p.m. Thursday, according to a BNSF customer update on the company’s Web site.