Nostalgia & History > Upon Reflection

An empty crude oil train crosses a tidal inlet of Padilla Bay near Anacortes WA on 11/29/2015.  I've put this in the Nostalgia & History forum because these trains no longer run, after BNSF was found to have violated an agreement with the Swinomish tribe:  https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/bnsf-railway-ordered-to-pay-washington-tribe-nearly-400-million-for-trespassing-with-oil-trains

mike woodruff
north platte ne

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WOW, good looking photo.
I used to live in Mount Vernon in the early 90s.  I knew it was a sore issue then.  Hard to believe after so many decades this outcome finally happened.

👍👍👍 Mike!

Very nice.
JB

Great shot !
Gary

I hope some court will step in and work some compromise.  Yes, BNSF violated some stupid agreement, but the Interstate Commerce should have precedent here.  

MEKoch Wrote:
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> I hope some court will step in and work some
> compromise.  Yes, BNSF violated some stupid
> agreement, but the Interstate Commerce should have
> precedent here.  

A very quick search indicates the agreement was entered into in 1991, so whether its "stupid" or not this was a matter of law, and it's not like this is some obscure deal from 200 years ago. It appears BNSF willfully violated the terms of the agreement, got caught, made matters worse when they had a derailment in the very area of concern, and then a federal court ruled against the railroad and tagged them with a huge fine. Neither the STB, nor the ICC before it have any standing to overrule a private contract for the railroad to operate over tribal land.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/14/25 12:40 by DJ-12.