Crews mop up spill

Train leaks diesel on Edmonds shore

By Janice Podsada

Herald Writer

EDMONDS — Cleanup crews will continue sopping up oil this weekend along the Edmonds shoreline where two Burlington Northern Santa Fe locomotives spilled 3,500 gallons of diesel fuel into Puget Sound and along the railroad tracks early Friday morning.

A Burlington Northern freight train was en route from Seattle to Chicago when it hit debris on the tracks just north of Carkeek Park in Seattle about 1:30 a.m. Friday, said Gus Melonas, a railroad spokesman.

The crew of a southbound train first saw fuel leaking onto the tracks about 1:35 a.m. They alerted the crew on the northbound train, Melonas said.

The debris punctured the lead locomotive’s 4,000-gallon diesel fuel tank, as well as the fuel tank on a second locomotive not in operation. The 75-car, mile-long train continued north another 10 miles before it came to a stop in front of Meadowdale Marina in Edmonds, which has not been in use the past four years.

The pungent smell of diesel fuel wafted over a row of new view homes on the bluff above the marina, which is destined to be torn down.

The spill kept resident Christine Vaughn from taking her dog for a walk on the beach Friday. "We won’t be able to go down there for a couple of days," she said.

Vaughn, who lives nearby, said that when she heard about the spill Friday morning, she thought it was from a 44-foot pleasure boat that caught fire and sank Thursday night in the waters off Edmonds.

The lead locomotive lost about 500 gallons from its tank, while the second locomotive lost about 3,000 gallons of fuel. Diesel fuel from the second locomotive ran into Puget Sound once the train came to a stop.

Crew members and Edmonds firefighters, who arrived first on the scene, were able to patch the lead locomotive’s fuel tank before it leaked its entire contents,

No one was injured. But the train’s two crew members were splashed with diesel fuel in their effort to patch the tank. As a precaution, medics took them to Stevens Memorial Hospital in Edmonds, where they were checked and released, Melonas said.

"If it weren’t for their efforts, there would have been a lot more spilled," said Paul O’Brien with the state Department of Ecology’s spills program.

The crew was unsuccessful, however, in stopping the flow from the second locomotive’s tank.

Fuel that leaked into Puget Sound next to the marina created a 300-foot-by-1,500-foot sheen on the water, Melonas said. Coast Guard helicopters monitored the spill’s path from the sky.

There was an oily sheen visible on the water Friday morning. By the afternoon, most of the oil had been contained inside a ring of absorbent pads that marked the spill area. Vacuum trucks suctioned up the fuel, and railroad officials searched for details along the tracks,

The nature of the debris was not immediately known, but there are occasional rock slides from cliffs in the area.

The tracks will be inspected and cleaned this weekend. Some delays could occur.

Department of Ecology and Coast Guard officials monitored Friday’s cleanup operation, which is being paid for by Burlington Northern.

The extent of the environmental damage appears to be minimal, Melonas said.

Any oil spill kills marine life, O’Brien said. "It’s relatively toxic to fish and wildlife, especially juvenile fish."

Diesel fuel is less hazardous than crude oil, and because it is lighter than crude dissipates and evaporates faster. Diesel also is not as volatile as gasoline, O’Brien added.

The two locomotives were moved Friday afternoon to the Burlington Northern train yard in Everett to be examined and checked for damages.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

You can call Herald Writer Janice Podsada at 425-339-3029 or send e-mail to

podsada@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Jasmine Donahue talks about being a place for people leave messages when looking for family members, friends or loved ones on the street on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett extends deadline for homeless service facing closure

Hope ‘N Wellness must now comply with city zoning laws by April 30. The organization is “grateful,” its owner said, but still hopes for a permanent solution.

New Greater Everett Chamber of Commerce CEO CEO Wendy Poischbeg speaks at a kick off event on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Everett Rising’: Wednesday’s chamber luncheon to showcase a new era of growth.

The Greater Everett Chamber of Commerce is beginning its efforts… Continue reading

The Edmonds School District building on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds School District faces estimated $8.5 million deficit

The shortfall is lower than previous years, but the effects are “cumulative,” Superintendent Rebecca Miner said.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Hundreds rally against Trump on Presidents Day in Everett

People lined Broadway with signs and flags, similar to other protests across the country.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.