LIVINGSTON, Mont. — The Montana Standard reports that three runaway freight cars derailed in Livingston Saturday morning, but they were empty and there was nothing spilled, a Montana Rail Link official said.
There were no injuries.
Spokeswoman Lynda Frost said the derailment occurred at 4 a.m. She said the three cars were part of a parked 18-car unit and no locomotives were involved.
“These cars, which were not powered, traveled for about a half-mile before they hit a berm, which is in place should an incident like this occur,” Frost said.
The berms were installed because the high winds in Livingston “can actually move the cars,” she said.
MRL officials were trying to determine why the cars took off.
“It’s been verified that it was not wind related, which means that either it was a hand-brake failure or there is the possibility that some one was tampering with equipment,” she said.
A crane was being brought in to realign the cars.