JOPLIN, Mont. – Backed-up freight trains began moving across Montana again, after crews laid temporary rails around the wreckage of the Empire Builder passenger train. Trains edged slowly past eight 80-ton bilevel stainless steel Superliner cars that giant cranes had lifted to the side.  Amtrak resumed its passenger train departures Tuesday from Chicago for the West Coast – 66-hour trip. The first eastbound Amtrak from Seattle was scheduled to resume Wednesday. The first westbound eastbound train at the Winona Amtrak station was scheduled at 7:47 p.,m., Wednesday and the first and the westbound at 10:11 a.m., Friday.

Earlier: Eight hospitalized train survivors stable

 

Ever so gingerly. The first westbound freight eases into the wreck zone three miles west of Joplin.

Picking up 80-ton Superliner cars. Burlington Northern, which owns the Joplin right-of-way, has pre-positioned equipment and crews to mobilize  quickly to clear tracks in event of derailments.