BNSF offers reward for information about tampering

BNSF Railway is offering a reward for information in connection to the suspected tampering of railroad tracks that delayed nine trains in Southwest Washington on Monday.

The railroad is offering an up to $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of person or persons responsible for tampering with tracks between Vancouver and Chehalis on Monday, spokesman Gus Melonas said.

Anyone with information should call the crime tip hotline at 1-800-832-5452, he said.

Informants aren’t required to give their name to get the reward.

Officials discovered the tampering just before 11 a.m. Monday near the Longview junction, Melonas said. BNSF personnel later found tampering at several spots on the tracks between Felida and Chehalis prompting the organization to shut down traffic for a few hours.

“Heightened inspections through the corridor continued through the night and into the day,” Melonas said. “Hundreds of local BNSF employees are on the lookout for any suspicious activity.”

Operations in the 60-mile corridor returned to normal on Tuesday, Melonas said.