King 5 News is reporting on a 19-car train derailment that occurred outside Superior, Montana on Thursday. As a result of the derailment, three railcars that carried several Boeing aircraft fuselages plummeted into Clark Fork River. The aircraft parts were for 737, 747 and 777 airplanes.
According to
The Missoulian:
A Montana Rail Link freight train has derailed near Fish Creek, sending three aircraft fuselages down a steep embankment into the Clark Fork River.
MRL spokeswoman Lynda Frost said 19 cars from a westbound train derailed about 4 p.m. Thursday 10 miles west of Alberton near Fish Creek Road and Interstate 90. No injuries were reported.
Thirteen cars were carrying aircraft components, soybeans and denatured alcohol, while half a dozen were empty. Frost said no alcohol leaked and no soybeans spilled, but three cars with aircraft fuselages went into the river.
Trains are being rerouted while crews clean up the closed section of track, Frost said. The line is expected to reopen by Saturday evening.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks plans to close the Alberton Gorge section of the Clark Fork so debris from the derailment can be removed safely, but the river will be open Saturday, said fisheries manager Pat Saffel.
There were no injuries reported and officials are investigating the cause of the derailment. Today the tracks were re-opened.
The aircraft are now a curious attraction for Clark Fork River boaters who are enjoying getting a good gawk at this bizarre plane crash.
Photos by Kyle Massick
Photo by Tom Bauer
If planes are your thing, I recommend checking out
Wings and Waves waterpark. It's a pretty rad waterpark in Oregon built around a 747.
Wings & Waves Waterpark, Waterpark built around a 747...Awesome!