(The Billings Gazette posted the following article on its website on August 29.)
ESSEX, Mont. — One of two rail lines reopened Saturday afternoon after 21 cars of a freight train derailed near the southern border of Glacier National Park the day before.
BNSF Railway spokesman Gus Melonas said one line was reopened at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and the other was expected to be reopened by Saturday evening.
Crews had to clear away the derailed cars and were using rail-mounted vacuums to clean up the spilled corn so it did not attract wildlife.
Melonas said the cause of the derailment is still under investigation. He said the cleanup would take three to four weeks.
The train was headed from Willmar, Minn., to Kalama, Wash., when the cars derailed at Blacktail, near the town of Essex, Friday morning.
Three cars tipped over, spilling their loads of corn, Melonas said.
Amtrak Empire Builder passengers were bused from Whitefish to Havre while the line was closed.