(The Billings Gazette posted the following article on its website on May 26.)
BILLINGS, Mont. — A burning locomotive pulled into Billings and the fire was quickly extinguished Wednesday evening.
Fire crews were sent to the area near the Sixth Avenue underpass about 8:20 p.m. after a cell phone caller reported a burning train coming eastbound into Billings, Bergstrom said.
“Quick thinking on the part of the Montana Rail Link people made it a real smooth operation for us,” said fire Battalion Chief Tim Bergstrom. “They did a tremendous job of putting that train where we could access it.”
The Montana Rail Link crew knew the electric-powered engine was burning, he said, and intentionally were able to pull it past the Moore Lane crossing and to the area of the underpass so fire crews had quick access.
Because of the energy storage on the locomotive, fire crews from Station Nos. 2 and 4 used numerous dry chemical extinguishers on the fire, Bergstrom said. Once the fire was controlled, the crews used water to dissipate the heat inside the locomotive.