Freight traffic resumes after derailment

MISSOULA (AP) — Freight traffic resumed Friday morning after Montana Rail Link workers cleared the site of a train derailment in western Montana.

Twenty-three cars of a 66-car freight train destined for Laurel derailed early Wednesday along a steep embankment above the Clark Fork River about 4 miles east of Superior. Four empty cars ended up in the river. Some train traffic was re-routed while other trains were held on sidings.

MRL spokeswoman Lynda Frost told the Missoulian crews worked late Thursday and early Friday to repair the tracks.

Frost says the first train moved through the area at 10:30 a.m. Friday.

She said crews were to return to the area Monday to remove the cars from the river and four others on the embankment. Cleanup was expected to continue through next week.