Corn From Madison, Derailed in Billings

Posted on Thursday, January 24, 2008

A train full of corn that began its journey in Madison, derailed Wednesday in Billings Montana.

It could take up to three weeks to clean up the mess near downtown Billings. That's the word from BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas (muh-LOH'-nus) in Seattle.

He says the cleanup includes removing the derailed train cars, and picking up all the corn that was spilled.

Eight cars from a 109-car freight train derailed this morning, but no one was hurt. The westbound train was carrying corn from Madison, to Kalama (kuh-lam'-uh), Washington.

Melonas says one of the derailed cars toppled on its side, three are leaning, and the other four are upright. He says crews expect to have one of the two blocked rail lines open by 6 p.m., and the other cleared by late tonight or early tomorrow.