Dangerous, crazy and stupid are words being used this week to describe the actions of whoever piled driftwood and rocks across trains tracks south of the 13000-block of Marine Drive Monday (Jan. 9).
“Any train coming… wouldn’t have been able to see it in time,” said Isabel Bliss, an Ocean Park resident who came across the debris around 4:30 p.m. Jan. 9.
“What a crazy thing to do. It just doesn’t make any sense why anyone would be so foolish.”
Bliss said she and a man who was also walking in the area moved quickly to clear the tracks – the pile had been arranged to enable one log to be stood on-end in the centre, and included a large boulder – then watched as a freight train rumbled through about two minutes later.
Bliss then reported the incident to railway officials.
BNSF Railway spokesman Gus Melonas said Tuesday that the pile likely would not have caused much damage to the train. The bigger danger, he said, comes in the velocity and distance at which the debris would have been thrown aside by the locomotive.
“There’s people along the right-of-way and debris can certainly fly for great distances at high speeds, and it’s dangerous,” he said.
“We won’t tolerate it. We’re going to inspect around the clock to ensure everybody’s safety and protection.”
Melonas said such trespassing incidents that include an element of mischief are not common along tracks in the South Surrey/White Rock area.
The track system was not damaged by Monday’s debris, and no further piles were located. Train crews were advised to operate prepared to stop short for obstacles, Melonas said.
He added the immediate notification of the debris was appreciated.
Anyone with information on the person or persons responsible may contact Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502.