Police guarding an EGT train in Longview, WA on Sept. 21, 2011
Police officers guarded railroad crossings as the train passed through Vancouver around 7 a.m. It arrived in Longview without incident around 10 a.m., BNSF Railway regional spokesman Gus Melonas said.The train, which originated in Cheney, had three locomotives and carried 110 carloads of wheat.The train was closely monitored with resource protection officers.“We will continue with close eyes on the operation and enhanced resource protection assistance and will monitor movements in Vancouver and through the Longview corridor,” Melonas said.Leal Sundet, union committeeman, issued the following statement in an e-mail:
“Given the abusive tactics of railroad police and Cowlitz County law enforcement acting as the private security force for EGT when they physically accosted sisters, wives, and mothers peacefully protesting on Port of Longview owned tracks the last time a train came in, we chose to be the first ones to tone down the intensity in an effort to send a message to Larry Clarke, CEO of EGT, that it would be prudent for him and in the best interest of all parties to sit down with ILWU International President Robert McEllrath to solve this dispute. The only real method of resolution is for that meeting to take place as soon as possible,” Sundet said.