Tractor-trailers hauling railroad ties line State Route K
near Amazonia, Mo., where a train with more than 30 cars derailed early
Saturday. It could take crews up to two days to repair the damage, Andrew
County Sheriff Bryan Atkins said.
JUNE 13, 2015
AMAZONIA, MO.
A train derailed in Andrew County early Saturday, putting a
stop to railroad traffic and closing one road.
Andy Williams, with BNSF Railway, said 31 cars carrying coal
derailed at about 3 a.m. Saturday. The train, he said, was headed southwest at
the time of the accident. No one was injured, and the cause of the derailment
is under investigation.
The accident happened just south of the State Route K and
County Road 392/375 intersection near Amazonia, Mo.
Andrew County Sheriff Bryan Atkins said Route K was closed
from Camp Geiger north to County Road 392/375 while crews clean up the wreck.
“They’ve got quite a mess down there,” he said of the
accident. “... (Railroad crews) are working to unload equipment so that they
can go down and clean it up and get their track back open so they can get the
trains that are all stacked up north of here back to running again.”
Mr. Atkins said he hadn’t been to the scene yet, but BNSF
and equipment officials told him it could take up to 48 hours to clear and
repair the railroad.
“There will have to be track replacement done,” he said.
Crews on Saturday afternoon were unloading multiple tractor-trailers of
railroad ties on Route K near the scene.
Since crews will be working in the area, Mr. Atkins asked
motorists to try and avoid Route K from Camp Geiger to County Road 392/275 for
at least the rest of the weekend.