(The following story appeared on the Oroville Mercury Register website on April 28.)
OROVILLE, Calif. — A train derailment that blocked the main Union Pacific Railroad tracks through the Feather River Canyon was cleared Monday more than two hours ahead of schedule.
At about 9:20 p.m. Sunday a mostly empty 11-car Burlington Northern Santa Fe train went off the tracks near Ophir Road in the Oroville area, according to Lena Kent, a spokesperson for the railroad.
She said, at the time of the derailment, an employee of Union Pacific was at the controls of the train.
Kent explained sometimes when a train is operating on another company’s track, staff from the railroad that owns the track drives the train.
Cal Fire-Butte County reported there were no hazardous materials on the train. Kent also reported there were no injuries in the mishap.
She also said the one loaded car in the small train was carrying frozen turkeys.
Union Pacific was in charge of clearing the rails.
Zoe Richardson, director of corporate and media relations for UP, said the initial prediction was the line through the canyon would be closed until about 5 p.m. Monday.
However, Kent said the tracks were clear by 3 p.m.