Union Pacific Train Fire Contained, Stalls Rail Line

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By City News Service

A Union Pacific locomotive caught fire north of Moreno Valley on Sunday, prompting a stop to transcontinental rail traffic.

The fire was reported at 11:13 a.m. at San Timoteo Canyon and Viper roads, north of Moreno Valley, according to spokeswoman Jennifer Fuhrman at the Riverside County Fire Department.

A cable that broke and became wrapped in a locomotive is believed to be the cause of the fire, Fuhrman said.

Firefighters contained the fire at 11:35 a.m., Fuhrman said. No injuries were reported, Fuhrman said.

Union Pacific closed its tracks for an indeterminate period of time.

The next Amtrak train schedule to pass there, the Sunset Limited, was scheduled to depart Los Angeles at 2:30 p.m. Sunday and it was not clear how the track problem would affect the train to New Orleans.