Train strikes irrigation line on tracks near Ephrata

EPHRATA — A wheeled irrigation line was struck by a Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) locomotive engine on Saturday.

The incident occurred near the Naylor townsite, about seven miles southeast of Ephrata.

“Fortunately there were no injuries,” said Lena Kent, BNSF executive director for public affairs. “We did strike a piece of irrigation equipment that had rolled on the tracks. We had to work to remove the pipe that was wrapped around the engine before we could operate the locomotive.”

It was not clear how the irrigation line, part of a pivot system, ended up on the tracks.