High winds derail 47 BNSF cars in Texas Panhandle

FRIONA, Texas (AP) — A storm packing winds strong enough to form a tornado has derailed more than 40 BNSF Railway cars in the Texas Panhandle June 18. Joe Faust, a spokesman with Fort Worth-based BNSF, said Tuesday that nobody was hurt in the derailment between Friona and Summerfield. Faust said that 47 cars, empty or carrying various freight, derailed before dawn Monday. He said 42 cars ended up on their sides. No cargo spilled from the 71-car train traveling from Clovis, N.M., to Amarillo. BNSF reopened the line at about midnight Monday. The National Weather Service in Lubbock estimates winds gusted up to 100 mph at the time. Forecaster John Lipe said sometimes the outflow from thunderstorms can produce such winds. EF1 tornadoes carry winds from 86 mph to 110 mph.