A report of a train derailment in Boundary County Sunday afternoon actually occured about three miles east of the Montana State line, but because the call came to our local sheriffs dispatch, local emergency personnel responded.

The call reached the Boundary County Sheriffs Office at 3:15 p.m. Sunday, reporting that a Burlington Northern Sante Fe train carrying wheat from Montana to Kalama, Washington, had derailed. County emergency management incident commander Bob Graham and sheriffs deputies responded to the remote scene along the Kootenai canyon just past the Leonia Bridge.

BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas said the four locomotive train hauling 97 carloads of grain had about 25 of those cars leave the track, with 18 reported on their sides and seven remaining upright.

Burlington Northern crews worked through the night to clear the tracks, leaving many trains parked along the sidings and lines both east and west, including several trains in Bonners Ferry. Most freight traffic was halted, but Amtrak passenger lines and some of the freight trains were rerouted.

According to BNSF, the main track is out of service, and there is no estimated time of reopening, but crews are on-site to make the necessary repairs. Freight customers, they said in a service advisory, may experience delays of up to 24 to 36 hours.

No one was injured in the derailment, and no hazardous materials spilled. Some of the wheat did reach the river, but in small quantities.

BNSF customers awaiting shipments can call customer support at 1-888-428-2673, option 4, option 3. To access, you will need your PIN.