Seven cars of an eastbound San Luis & Rio Grande freight train derailed Monday night near the top of 9,242-foot La Veta Pass in southern Colorado, but no hazardous materials were involved and no injuries were reported.
The incident occurred along a stretch of track that will be used by the “North Pole Express,” a holiday train run by the Rio Grande Scenic Express, the passenger side of the San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad.
The North Pole Express is set to run from La Veta up to the top of La Veta Pass and back again on Saturday and Sunday, and Dec. 15 and 16. Santa appears on the train to hear Christmas wishes, pose for photos and pass out candy canes.
Mike McConville, San Luis & Rio Grande’s vice president of operations, said Monday’s derailment will not affect operations of the North Pole Express or pose a safety hazard for passengers.
A spokesman for the Federal Railroad Administration said it is in contact with the railroad about Monday’s incident but that the FRA would not investigate.
“It just doesn’t warrant it. There were no injuries and no hazmat,” said Rob Kulat, spokesman for the agency.
Kulat added that it is the responsibility of the railroad to make sure no mishaps occur during runs of the North Pole Express.
“We believe it (the express) would be a safe trip,” said Kulat. “There is no reason to believe otherwise. But it is incumbent on the railroad to make sure it is safe.”
McConville said the accident occurred about 11:30 p.m. on an eastbound freight train traveling from Alamosa to Walsenberg. The seven cars were all carrying grain.
McConville said that the railroad expects the rails to be repaired by Tuesday night and the cars that derailed to be back on the tracks soon. No trains were canceled, he added.
Kulat said there is no pattern of incidents involving the San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad to warrant an investigation of the railroad’s overall practices.
He said there was an incident on May 23, 2006, that involved six cars derailing. Railroad officials said the cause was a wheel defect in a rail car belonging to another railroad.
The FRA spokesman said a second incident occurred on July 26, 2006, when a truck ignored properly operating and lowered rail-crossing gates and crashed into a train. Kulat said the railroad was not responsible.
McConville said that the railroad, which hauls San Luis Valley freight such as farm chemicals, potatoes and barley, has been highly successful, including its new mountain-excursion service launched in May 2006 — the first passenger line between Alamosa and La Veta in more than 50 years.
He said that next year, the excursion service will add nicer passenger cars and two steam locomotives, which the railroad hopes will heighten passenger enjoyment.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
