(The Associated Press circulated the following story on May 18.)
BUTTE, Mont. — The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway wants to buy and operate a section of railroad owned by Butte-based Montana Western Railway Co., a move that could affect 15 area jobs.
Burlington Northern is asking federal regulators to approve the purchase of a 52-mile line of railway that stretches from Garrison to Butte. The Surface Transportation Board could make a final decision within 30 to 60 days, said Nancy Beiter, a staff attorney for the board.
Burlington Northern owned that stretch of railway until 1986, when it was sold to Montana Western.
The current owners of the line said about 15 workers might have a chance to seek jobs with BNSF if the national railway takes over.
“We’ve been working on this for some time,” said Mike Green of Montana Western, which hauls equipment and supplies for companies in and around Butte including Town Pump, bulk oil dealers and scrap companies.