PONDERAY — Up to 60 empty coal cars and a locomotive derailed early Friday morning following a washout on Montana Rail Link’s mainline along Lake Pend Oreille.

There were no injuries and no hazardous materials were released, the company said in a statement. The derailed cars and locomotive remained upright.

The derailment occurred shortly after 6 a.m. The washout occurred east of the intersection of Third Street and Cedar Avenue. One set of train tracks and a Jersey barrier were suspended over a 30-foot tall void in the raiload’s embankment on Friday. At the bottom of the void was a current of stormwater.

Other culverts under the tracks on Ponder Point appeared to be running at or near capacity on Friday afternoon.

Montana Rail Link spokesman Jim Miller said the cause of the washout remained under investigation.

“We do know that high water levels and ground saturation are contributing factors,” said Lewis.

Montana Rail Link crews mobilized equipment on either side of Highway 200 at Kootenai Bay Road and Seven Sisters Drive. Large pieces of track-mounted equipment plodded east along railroad right of way to reach the damaged section of track. Other crews and heavy equipment staged closer to the site at Fourth and Railroad Avenue.

An official from Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper was also at the site to assess the damage. The water quality watchdog group has opposed increased coal shipments through Bonner County due to the impacts of a derailment on the lake and the broader implications of coal consumption and climate change.

Lewis said it’s unclear when the main track will be reopened for use.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.