BNSF just had what I would think is a rare mainline derailment next to a golf course along Puget Sound southwest of Tacoma. I wondered if anyone might have heard something about the cause, though it's early to have heard anything from the railroad. It's an odd place for a derailment since the ROW is at sea level, essentially, and the earth bank along the east side of the tracks is not very high.

There's a new pedestrian overpass that crosses the tracks and apparently accesses the beach so the potential for vandalism in the otherwise remote spot is increased.

Unfortunately the northbound freight derailed into a southbound garbage train, according to news reports, so the damage was pretty extensive.