Tracks cleared after train derails

The Associated Press

ESSEX - Five empty grain cars derailed early Tuesday on the main Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad line near here, company officials said.

The cars were part of a 120-car train of empty grain cars en route from Pasco, Wash., to Minot, N.D., railroad spokesman Gus Melonas said. No one was injured, and the derailed cars remained upright off the tracks.

Melonas said the derailment occurred at 1:45 a.m. about 4 miles northwest of Essex on the tracks that run parallel to U.S. 2.

Heavy equipment was brought in from Havre to get the cars back on the track. Railroad crews were brought in from Havre, Whitefish, Browning and Billings to help with the cleanup, Melonas said.

The track was cleared in time for Amtrak's Empire Builder passenger train, which passed through the Essex area shortly before 9 a.m., Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said.