Updated Aug. 19 at 10:06 a.m.
WALTON, Kan. — Trains are running again on the BNSF main line through Harvey County after two trains were blown off the tracks during Saturday night’s storm.
The derailments near Walton occurred when an intermodal train hauling containers was blown off the main line and into a second train on a siding.
According to Andy Williams with BNSF, the track was opened again around midnight. Both Amtrak trains were also able to pass without delay.
There were no injuries reported and crews will continue to work to remove a large amount of wreckage that involved 93 empty tank cars on the train parked on the siding and 52 cars on the intermodal train. Williams says the train was traveling about 15 miles per hour when it left the tracks. The wreckage also involved 104 semi containers on board.
There were no injuries reported.
WALTON, Kan. — Strong winds from a line of thunderstorms blew over two BNSF freight trains in Harvey County Saturday night near the small town of Walton, or about 7 miles northeast of Newton. The winds, estimated at nearly 70 miles per hour, pushed over an intermodal train on the mainline and an empty LP gas tank car train on the siding. 
Emergency crews were on the scene throughout the day trying to clear the wreckage so trains could start moving again. Two portions of the nearly two-mile-long intermodal train left the tracks while the entire train hauling the tank cars fell on its side. The wreck also stopped Amtrak’s Southwest Chief heading west before it could reach Newton.
The line is one of BNSF’s transcontinental routes and sees about 45 trains per day. Officials with BNSF were not available for comment.
