(The Associated Press circulated the following story on March 10.)
WHITE EARTH, N.D. — Crews worked all night to clear the railroad tracks near here after 31 cars on a freight train carrying automobiles derailed, Burlington Northern Santa Fe officials said. No one was hurt.
BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas said crews hoped to reopen the tracks late Wednesday night. Amtrak, which also uses the tracks, was busing its passengers around the area temporarily, he said.
The derailment happened about 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, Mountrail County Sheriff Ken Halvorson said. The cause was not immediately known and officials were still tallying the damage Wednesday.
The 71-car train was traveling from Portland, Ore., to Blue Island, Ill., Melonas said. The first and 31st of the derailed cars stayed upright while the others derailed at various angles, he said.
The site was about 75 miles west of Minot.
“The cars contained automobiles,” Melonas said. “There was a small amount of gasoline spilled, but no environmental damage,” he said.