(The Gillette News-Record posted the following article on its website on August 17.)
GILLETTE, Wyo. — An empty Burlington Northern Santa Fe coal train derailed west of Gillette late Tuesday night.
There were no injuries and the trains were carrying no hazardous materials at the time of the derailment, BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas said from Seattle.
The 11-car derailment occurred when an eastbound maintenance train hauling rock bumped the back of a 123-car coal train idling on a side track next to Echeta Road at about 11 p.m, seven miles west of Gillette, Melonas said.
The derailment briefly blocked the entrance to Oriva Hills early Wednesday, Campbell County Undersheriff Scott Matheny said.
BNSF workers had cleared four cars off the main track by 8:10 a.m. Wednesday and continued to work with machinery to clear the side track, Melonas said. BNSF investigators were on scene and the Federal Railroad Administration officials had contacted the railroad, Melonas said.
Both trains were headed for the North Antelope mine south of Wright from Pipestone, Mont.