(The Associated Press circulated the following on November 27, 2009.)
KALISPELL, Mont. — Amtrak officials say a passenger train partially derailed after striking a boulder that had rolled onto the tracks about five miles west of Essex.
Amtrak spokeswoman Karina Romero says the front wheels of the lead locomotive derailed at about 7 p.m. Wednesday. None of the train’s 256 passengers reported injuries.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe spokesman Gus Melonas says a derailment construction crew re-railed the lead locomotive and a BNSF crew cleared debris from the tracks, which were reopened to traffic Wednesday night.
The Amtrak train was held up for nearly six hours while five BNSF freight trains were also delayed.