Train derails near Palouse

A train derailed Friday, March 1, north of Palouse on the Washington and Idaho Railroad line. The derailment, which occurred on tracks near mile 22 on Highway 27, was described as fairly common by Carl Nelson, general manager of the railroad. “There was just some soft ground and the track just went away underneath it,” he said. Three cars came to a stop leaning against an embankment. Nelson had no estimate of how much time or money it may take for crews to restore the train and tracks to operation. The rail line is owned by the state of Washington.