Source: Rail washouts not uncommon

June 24th, 2009 at 04:20pm Thomas V. Bona

Just talked to Randall Brassell, spokesman for the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees - which represents track inspectors and others - about resident reports that the Canadian National Railway track through Rockford had washouts several times in recent years, including one that could have caused Friday’s derailment.

He said three in three years is not alarming. “It wouldn’t be uncommon to have washouts somewhere every time you have a major rainstorm.”

The question is what kind of precautions and inspections happened after the rain storms. And it’s too early to say that CN didn’t follow proper procedures, Brassell said: “I could see you having a big rainstorm and an inspector going out and riding the tracks and it looks fine and the water builds and washes out the tracks behind him.”

I’m going to talk to the union’s director of safety for a story this weekend, along with other sources. We’re trying to get corroborating data that there is a history of washouts on that track, and if there have been is there an unusual frequency.

Question for those who live in the area and/or are rail experts - are washouts there or in general fairly common? Anything unsusual about this situation? What do we need to know and ask in our reporting

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