At 03:15 CDT on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 BNSF train V-PTLBLU3-07 derailed 30 cars 3 miles West of White Earth, ND blocking single main track.

Crews worked all night Tuesday to clear the railroad tracks near White Earth, North Dakota, after 31 cars on a freight train carrying automobiles derailed, Burlington Northern Santa Fe officials said. No one was hurt.

BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas said crews hoped to reopen the track early Thursday morning. Plans to have it open late Wednesday were delayed by the weather, he said. Amtrak, which also uses the tracks, was busing its passengers around the area temporarily, he said.

The 71-car train was traveling from Portland, Ore., to Blue Island, Ill., Melonas said. The first and 31st of the derailed cars stayed upright while the others derailed at various angles, he said.

The site was about 75 miles west of Minot.

"The cars contained automobiles," Melonas said. "There was a small amount of gasoline spilled, but no environmental damage," he said.

The main track was returned to service at 08:00 a.m. CDT on Thursday, March 11, 2004. Opening was delayed by a winter storm that swept through the area on Wednesday.