Hinkle Yard/Hermiston, Ore. (UP)

July 2, 2003

At approximately 6 p.m., a remote control set of locomotives was shoving a cut of cars when they collided with an inbound manifest train. The cars that the remote was shoving were flat cars loaded with military tanks. At least three box cars on the inbound train were derailed (one was demolished, a witness said). It is not known whether any of the flat cars that were carrying military tanks were derailed or if any of the tanks were damaged. No one was hurt in the collision, but there was the potential for a catastrophic event. If the car that was demolished was a tank car carrying hazardous material instead of a box car, then Hinkle could have had a serious chemical spill.