Gillette Debates Rail Spur Expansion

GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) — City officials in Gillette are discussing the merits of possibly expanding a rail spur to help their local economy.

Some question whether that would be smart because Upton already has an industrial site with a rail spur. A report completed for the city in March advised against developing a new industrial park or site that would compete with the one in Upton, about 45 miles northeast of Gillette.

Others say Gillette is remote enough that a bigger rail spur would provide benefits such as supplying fuel for Campbell County's coal mines.

The Associated Press reports Gillette owns an existing rail spur that was developed in the 1980s.

Expanding the spur to include a loop to accommodate trains with up to 100 cars would cost tens of millions of dollars.