Washington State Troopers mingle with members of a cleanup crew as they prepare to tow away a truck that collided with the Chehalis-Centralia Steam Train along state Route 6 near Adna in July.
The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission recently issued a letter to the operators of the Chehalis-Centralia Steam Train, stating the association did not properly report a July 15 accident that resulted in the death of a Curtis man after a collision with the train on state Route 6.
Rick Rouse, senior director of operations of the Port of Chehalis, informed port commissioners on Thursday that the UTC said the accident was not reported in a timely manner, nor was the report complete.
“The failure for timely and complete reporting cited in the WUTC correspondence is of considerable concern to the Port of Chehalis Commission,” stated Rouse in a letter to the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad and Museum.
According to the letter dated Aug. 3 from the UTC, the operators informed the National Response Center the day after the incident occurred, but were required to make a telephonic report within 30 minutes of such an event.
The railroad is also required to submit reports to the UTC at the same time as the Federal Railroad Administration.
“Failure to provide these required reports is a violation of commission rules,” stated the letter from UTC. “Going forward, commission staff will recommend that the commission take enforcement action against the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad if it fails to report incidents or accidents as required. Each day’s continuance of a violation is considered a separate and distinct violation and may result in monetary penalties.”
Wanda Thompson, secretary and treasurer of the Chehalis-Centralia Steam Train and Museum, told The Chronicle that when she called the National Response Center she was informed that call would cover both federal and state reporting requirements. She did say the phone call likely took place the day after the crash.
Thompson also said she has since submitted a copy of the report to the UTC.
A records request to the UTC for the report filed by Thompson does show the National Response Center forwarded the incident report to the UTC, and the Federal Railroad Administration, among other parties.
Since this is the first time the steam train has experienced a situation like this, Thompson said, the lack of proper reporting was due to a learning curve.
The steam train is operated on port-owned property, so the operators are responsible for providing documentation to the port on an annual basis. The port asked the steam train to submit various documents that included dates of track inspections, minutes of last year’s meetings, a list of directors and their contact information, as well as a copy of the reports submitted after the accident.
As of Thursday, the port had not received some of the documentation it requested, despite multiple requests, Rouse said.
“They are doing most of their work right, but they are missing a few things,” Randy Mueller, port CEO, said. “… We will continue to work with them and try to get them to comply.”
Thompson said she is working to submit the rest of the required documentation to the port. As a volunteer for the steam train, Thompson has a full-time job, which sometimes causes delays.
The discussion during the port commission meeting was informational and commissioners were not asked to take action. However, Mueller said at some point if things are not resolved he will ask the commissioners for further direction on how to proceed.
“At this point we want to keep you informed because they are yet to be in full compliance,” Mueller said.
The accident was first reported at 6:44 p.m. July 15 on state Route 6 at Twin Oaks Road.
The Washington State Patrol claims the truck was heading eastbound, failed to yield and was struck by the train at the crossing, although steam train operators have disputed that conclusion.
Thompson, who was on the train at the time, said the vehicle was heading westbound. She also stated the vehicle struck the train, which was already in the crossing when the collision occurred.
She is still working on resolving the discrepancy with the State Patrol, she said.
Jerry W. Mullins, 82, of Curtis, who was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado died Friday, July 28, following the crash.
