(The following article by Jane Braxton Little was posted on the Sacramento Bee website on March 10.)
GREENVILLE, Calif. — A freight train derailment sent six cars loaded with lumber and two empty hopper cars sprawling across the tracks in this Plumas County town, closing the north-south rail line operated by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway.
The accident occurred Wednesday morning when the train bound for Barstow was picking up some additional cars, said Lena Kent, a railroad company spokeswoman.
The impact of the derailment caused several loads of Weyerhaeuser lumber to separate from their cars and spill off the tracks.
Kent said she had no estimate of when the line would reopen.
The cause of the accident is under investigation.