Your Thursday evening update on Salem news

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Good evening, Salem.

After visiting Minto-Brown Island Park Thursday afternoon, Kimberly Morrison was looking forward to an afternoon at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival. She had a ticket, with an entry time of 3:30 p.m.

Instead, she spent over an hour stuck behind a stalled train. She and her sister, Julie Farrell, were among an estimated 100 cars barred from leaving the park through its only road in or out. 

Union Pacific Railroad did not immediately respond to request for comment from Salem Reporter. 

Morrison and her sister passed their time by counting the stalled cars, calling the train company to seek answers and talking to a Salem police officer about it. They also called Salem Reporter, who returned their call just before 3:30 p.m., right when the train started to move. 

With the warm weather, she said some people turned around to park in the lots and spend more time outdoors. Others stayed with their engines on, or the windows down.

A line of cars stuck behind a train at Minto-Brown Island Park Thursday afternoon, April 9. (JULIE FARRELL photo)


“I think about how many people, whether it’s picking up your kid or a doctor’s appointment or whatever, that’s just really freaky. And now it’s giving me pause of coming to this park that I love. But not if I’m going to be trapped there,” Morrison said.

Morrison said her main concern was for access for emergency vehicles. 

Farrell said it’s the second time she’s been stopped for a long period of time.

“I believe the solution is for the city council to put in a separate egress for times like this at the park,” Farrell said in an email.

The city does have alternative access points emergency vehicles could use if needed, Salem police spokesman Sgt. Jon Hardy said. He said the roads are too narrow to be used routinely or for convenience, but could facilitate an evacuation of the park if needed.

Here’s some of today’s news. Head to our website anytime for the latest in Salem.

www.salemreporter.com

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READERS REACT: “Great article! A valuable resource for researchers/government officials. Yet it is hard to believe that city officials can drive by Front Street near the Gilbert Museum and think this is OK.” -mjogal220, commenting on Abbey McDonald and Joe Siess’ story about how city council elections could shape city policy on homelessness.

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