(The News-Record circulated the following on December 5, 2009.)
NEWCASTLE – One car on a 120-car BNSF Railway coal train ran off the tracks between Upton and Newcastle early Friday morning, causing a backup of coal trains in the Powder River Basin.
No one was hurt in the derailment and no coal was spilled, said BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas.
“A mechanical response team out of Gillette had the train back on the track by noon Friday. However, there was some track damage and there are six BNSF maintenance teams that are repairing rail and tie damage,” Melonas said.
The line was expected to be opened up by early Saturday morning.
Some 10 trains have been delayed on the line between Gillette and Edgemont, S.D. Some traffic is being rerouted. The BNSF train was traveling from the Cordero Rojo mine to Iola, Texas.