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Amtrak Partially Derails After Hitting Boulder

By Beacon Staff

Amtrak officials say a passenger train partially derailed in Montana after striking a boulder that had rolled onto the tracks about five miles west of Essex.

Amtrak spokeswoman Karina Romero says the front wheels of the lead locomotive derailed at about 7 p.m. Wednesday some five miles west of Essex. None of the train’s 256 passengers reported injuries.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe spokesman Gus Melonas says a derailment construction crew got the lead locomotive back on the rails while debris was being cleared from the tracks.

The Amtrak train was held up for nearly six hours while five BNSF freight trains were also delayed.