BUTTE, Mont. BNSF Railway is installing 1,700 new feet of rail line near a Butte rail yard and plans to use the line to store excess rail cars, the Associated Press reports.
BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas said Thursday (July 30) the new rail work is expected to be completed Friday. Up to 75 cars are expected to be stored on the track.
Melonas says because of the economic downturn, the company has 35,000 rail cars systemwide that are not in use.
The company is storing a total of about 3,000 cars on unused track in Montana. Cars are located along the scenic Missouri River corridor between Helena and Great Falls, between Laurel and Great Falls, from Great Falls to Shelby, between Havre and Big Sandy as well as in the Circle area.
Rep. Anders Blewett, D-Great Falls, said earlier this year that the idled cars were an eyesore that hurt tourism on the blue-ribbon trout fishing destination.
"The BNSF shouldn't turn Montana into a dump for junk," Blewett said. "It's only 75 cars. It's simply not enough to address this issue."
(This item was distributed July 31, 2009, by the Associated Press.)
July 31, 2009
-- Edited by Troll on Saturday 1st of August 2009 08:12:06 AM
