Train derailment blocks Cheney-Spokane Road near state Route 904

An Eastern Washington Gateway Railroad grain train jumped the track early today, derailing seven loaded cars and closing Cheney-Spokane Road on the east side of Cheney. The derailment a short time before 1:30 a.m. knocked at least six cars off the rails, several of them in the crossing for Cheney-Spokane Road. One of the derailed cars north of the crossing was tilting about 20 degrees, but appeared stable and would likely be reset on the track without complication, a company spokesman said. Road crews have set up a detour around the crossing using Betz Road east of the traffic light on state Highway 904 to Andrus Road. That stretch of Betz Road is well maintained gravel. A contractor was bringing heavy equipment from Pasco this morning to re-right the cars and clear the tracks so repairs could be made. Bill Wolfe, director of maintenance for the line, said that work would probably take two days and that he wants to keep the crossing closed until about Saturday. The Gateway railroad operates on the state-owned Palouse River and Coulee City Railroad line that extends west from Cheney to Coulee City. It also runs south of Cheney serving Rosalia, Oakesdale and points south. The state-owned short line serves both farm communities by hauling grain at favorable rates, and industrial firms at Airway Heights. The train that derailed was bringing wheat to the BNSF Railway mainline for shipment. It contained about 30 cars. No injuries were reported. The derailment did not block access to shopping areas at Highway 904 and Cheney-Spokane Road. Roadblocks were set up ahead of the crossing in both directions. Traffic in Cheney was moving normally late this morning as drivers found the detour route.