A timber railroad bridge has been wiped out by a fire near Beulah, N.D., leaving Basin Electric without rail access to three of its energy production and product facilities.

BNSF owns the Spring Creek bridge. The rail line connects Dakota Gasification Company, Antelope Valley Station and The Coteau Properties Company’s Freedom Mine to the main rail line.

Basin Electric uses the 8-mile rail line to bring in chemicals and ship out products to market. The Antelope Valley Station receives lime via the railroad tracks, and Freedom Mine delivers coal to Leland Olds Station near Stanton.

BNSF plans to replace the bridge, but it is not sure what type of structure it will be. It will either be wood, concrete or steel. The Class 1 says it could take up to four weeks to replace the bridge.

The cause of the fire is unknown.

Read more articles on Class 1s.

The post N.D. rail bridge is destroyed by fire appeared first on Railway Track and Structures.