Sanders County derailment spurs memories of 1999 'Silver Bullet Derby'
An image published in the July 14, 1999 Clark Fork Valley Press shows Coors Light beer scooped up following a train derailment into the Clark Fork River near Plains. (Valley Press FILE)
An image published in the July 14, 1999 Clark Fork Valley Press shows a Montana Rail Link derailment near Plains. (Valley Press FILE)
Montana Rail Link freight cars hang along the Clark Fork River following a derailment in Sanders County, Montana on Sunday, April 2, 2023. (Tracy Scott/Clark Fork Valley Press)
Sunday’s Montana Rail Link derailment along the Clark Fork River near Paradise brought back memories for some Sanders County locals who recalled a similar incident more than two decades ago.
In July 1999, a Montana Rail Link freight train derailed between Paradise and Plains, spilling hot liquid asphalt, corn syrup and an estimate 8,000 12-packs of Coors Light beer into the Clark Fork River — the latter setting off the so-called “Silver Bullet Derby.”
The incident was eerily similar to Sunday’s derailment, which also dumped cases of Coors Light and Blue Moon beer into the river. Photos taken Sunday show a few intrepid boaters hoisting some beer bottles from the crash site.
According to the Valley Press archive, the 1999 derailment was possibly caused by a sun kink in the tracks. No one was injured in that incident, including two transients who had hopped on the back railcar.
Sunday’s derailment involving 25 railcars, with seven stuck in a tunnel, remains under investigation. The derailed area can only be reached by vehicles traveling on the blocked railroad track or by taking a boat across the river.
Andy Garland, spokesperson for Montana Rail Link, said Monday that railroad personnel and contractors continue work to clear the wreckage.
A boom was deployed in the Clark Fork River to secure cans and bottles of beer that enter the water, and to help monitor for potential diesel impacts.
The company said a small amount of fuel was released to the soil from two impacted refrigerator cars.
"[Montana Rail Link] has been in communication with both local and federal authorities and will conduct any necessary site remediation, including impacted soil removal in coordination with DEQ," the company said in a statement. "There continues to be no risk to the public, no reported injuries, and there are no concerns involving hazmat release.”
