News from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Corporation Commission has fined the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway $2,000 for illegally blocking its Tiger Switch rail crossing northeast of Tulsa four times.

The crossing, at 161st East Avenue, is in a largely rural area about two miles north and west of Catoosa in Rogers County. About 25 to 30 trains go through the Tiger Switch daily, a BNSF official told the commission. The road crosses a main line track and a siding track.

G. R. Combs, Corporation Commission railroad manager, said the illegal blockages occur when trains are switched onto the siding to await the passage of another train. He said the commission has received several complaints about crossing blockage.

Susie Ruby, a Rogers County resident, documented seven crossing blockages that exceeded the 10 minutes allowed by commission rules. The commission dismissed three alleged blocking incidents because they occurred in connection with a locomotive failure that caused a train to stall.

Commission rules allow crossings to be blocked for more than 10 minutes if a train is in continuous motion or is stopped for emergency reasons.

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