Am I going to grow a third eye?

[Anonymous]

Here's some pics of a train that went through towm yesterday. I was told that it might be hauling radioactive waste. It had a Dash 9 and a tunnel motoer for the two containers, the three boxcars and to my surprise a caboose. So is this person correct and I going to sprout an extra eye?[:D]









Jeremy

[Big_Boy_4005]

I believe that is the real deal Jeremy. It should be perfectly safe inside it's cask. Have you ever seen what kind of testing they put those things through? That's some flatcar that thing is rding. Thanks for sharing those pics.

[railman]

change out the motive power to a GP20 and a BN caboose, and you've got pretty much the same consist that used to haul the "real deal" from the plant in MN...we're pretty close to the BNSF line and (back when it used to just be "BN" ) these trains were a very rare occurance, but always visually interesting.

[cacole]

Your guess about the cargo is probably close to being right on the mark. The boxcars and caboose are required by law for safety reasons. The boxcars are empty and are just there to protect the crew in the locomotive and caboose if there should be a derailment or sudden emergency stop because of something on the track. Trains that carry loads of steel pipe for underground pipelines are also required to have the empty boxcars at each end to protect crew members, and a caboose. But to answer your question, no, you are not going to grow a third eye or anything like that due to radioactivity. You'd be surprised to see how much lead and concrete is lining that container, and how thick the outer skin is.

[ckape]

It looks like that thing's straddling two 8- or 12-axle flats, I can't quite tell.

I think it's standard procedure to put a caboose on any train with a special load like that. "Special" being sloppily defined by me as anything that needs more than 6 axles per car.

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ckape

It looks like that thing's straddling two 8- or 12-axle flats, I can't quite tell.

I think it's standard procedure to put a caboose on any train with a special load like that. "Special" being sloppily defined by me as anything that needs more than 6 axles per car.

The real question is, who's in that caboose and how heavily armed are they these days?[:0][;)]

[Anonymous]

Jeremy
The 3rd eye may not appear for a few months, sometimes mutations take time. However, since you photographed and published these pics, I would be more worried about dark, plain sedans occupied by guys in black suits, closely watched by black, unmarked helicopters.
[:-^]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

I believe that is the real deal Jeremy. It should be perfectly safe inside it's cask. Have you ever seen what kind of testing they put those things through? That's some flatcar that thing is rding. Thanks for sharing those pics.

Yeah righttt.

Isn't that what they told John Wayne too, right before filming movies in the desert?

<Am I too going to get visitors now?>

Makes you wonder, doesn't it Jeremy? [;)]

[88gta350]

That's a spent fuel cask. It's what spent fuel rods are shipped in, and what will be used to transport them to Yucca Mountain when it opens. If that one was full (unkown) you could sit right on top of the cask for a year and pick up no significant radiation. The average person picks up more radiation in a year from microwaves and the sun than a nuke plant worker does. I've worked at TMI for over 2 years and have yet to get even a single millirem, and the NRC limits you to 5 rem (or 5,000 millirem) a year.

Those casks are super sturdy, they are tested to withstand compression, puncture, fire, expolsion, etc.... as you can see by the car carrying it, they're heavy and imposing!

[Anonymous]

>Those casks are super sturdy, they are tested to withstand compression, puncture, >fire, expolsion, etc.... as you can see by the car carrying it, they're heavy and imposing!

Uhhhh, Let me just add my $2.63 worth (inflation, ya know): Nothing and I mean NOTHING is as sturdy or as fire/explosion proof as they are claimed to be by these supposed experts who manufacture or test em. I have been a firefighter/paramedic for over 18 years, and I have seen more than plenty of supposed 'fireproof, explosion proof, rupture proof" and many other "whatever-proof' containers not live up to anywhere close to what they are supposed to live up to in an emergency situation. Never believe the manufacturer or testers 100%. Fire does strange things to objects such as tanks, bridges and buildings. Look at the WTC.

[FThunder11]

I hope you got some good pics of the locomotive too!!! And its nice to see a caboose on the end of a train like in the good old days(even though i wasnt around then)!

[Anonymous]

The lack of hazmat signs means it's not what you are all thinking, looks to be some sort of electrical generator/turbine in a case, probably on it's way to a utility plant somewhere.

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by RocknRollExpress

Uhhhh, Let me just add my $2.63 worth (inflation, ya know): Nothing and I mean NOTHING is as sturdy or as fire/explosion proof as they are claimed to be by these supposed experts who manufacture or test em. I have been a firefighter/paramedic for over 18 years, and I have seen more than plenty of supposed 'fireproof, explosion proof, rupture proof" and many other "whatever-proof' containers not live up to anywhere close to what they are supposed to live up to in an emergency situation. Never believe the manufacturer or testers 100%. Fire does strange things to objects such as tanks, bridges and buildings. Look at the WTC.

I've seen the testing they go through. Assuming it is a cask, you can drop it pretty far before it will fail.

WTC was built just strong enough to hold itself up. Precision engineering. A fire such as occured in Philly or LA would have taken one of those towers down.

[tatans]

The big question is, what's it's destination and who are the lucky recipients to have this stored in their back yard for the next 10,000 years. Say---whats that small lump on your forehead?

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SteamerFan

The lack of hazmat signs means it's not what you are all thinking, looks to be some sort of electrical generator/turbine in a case, probably on it's way to a utility plant somewhere.

I beg to differ Jay. If you look closely, there are placards displayed. Look right under the center of the "object". Click on the photos to enlarge them. The first and third are the best. In the first, it looks like there's a second one near the trailing box car.

It isn't really as if this train needs to announce it's cargo. The crew is well aware of what they are hauling. Iwould think the federal government knows exactly where this shipment is at every step of its journey. At least I hope so.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

QUOTE: Originally posted by SteamerFan

The lack of hazmat signs means it's not what you are all thinking, looks to be some sort of electrical generator/turbine in a case, probably on it's way to a utility plant somewhere.

I beg to differ Jay. If you look closely, there are placards displayed. Look right under the center of the "object". Click on the photos to enlarge them. The first and third are the best. In the first, it looks like there's a second one near the trailing box car.

It isn't really as if this train needs to announce it's cargo. The crew is well aware of what they are hauling. Iwould think the federal government knows exactly where this shipment is at every step of its journey. At least I hope so.

Ok, the 2 placards I see look to be standard "Danger: High Voltage" or such type signs (top word is in red, but seems to be 3 words in white, 2 on first row and one on last row, so not sure exactlybwhat it says), not the diamond Hazmat signs, which are required by law for anything carrying anything hazardous (this is for emergency personel responding's knowledge, not the crews).

Secondaly, if this was truely a train carrying spent fuel rods or other such waste, the person who took the pictures would have been pounced on fairly soon (who do you think would ride in that caboose?) local police would have been on him in a flash, the photo's would have been confiscated (national security) and he would have been directed not to discuss the route of such a train.

It's highly doubtful that this was something other than just a very heavy object bound for some factory or power station somewhere.

[Javern]

whats the purpose of the caboose...does a security detail ride along the route or something?

[railman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Javern

whats the purpose of the caboose...does a security detail ride along the route or something?

the caboose is there for the same reason cabooses used to be on all the trains- it's another place to put bodies and eyes to watch the train. Because Uncle Sam is prolly footing the bill, the caboose returns and FRED gets a day off...because that load is something you want to watch from both sides...

And to respond to some who say if it was real you would have gotten pounced on, I disagree with that. By the look of your truck in the corner of the pictures, it looks enough like some kind of contractor vehicle (that could be involved) to not concern the people inside; after all they've been getting looks the whole trip, more than likely.

[Anonymous]

Ok my 2.75 infaltion is killing me. IF and I will say again IF it were a radioactive waste train Local Fire and police would know only of its possible route and possible time all of which they dont always tell you sometimes there are too many jurisdictions to notify that quick. and I can tell you from past experience (military) that they just dont pounce on you for taking a picture of a train.

1. the cargo is covered so you dont really know whats in it.
2. There isnt enough man power to have someone at every crossing.
3. If it is secret they will usually ship it at night and under strict cover.
4. If you dont want the public to see it ship. it in plain view they dont know what it is anyway.

My experience in the fire service has show me time and time again the Feds will ship anything they want anyway they want placard or not they have ways around this. I just cant tell you how I know. Beleive me or not, you decide.

I dont care about the load show me the Locomotive please.

[Anonymous]

That looks very similar to the cask car we had stored at the radioactive waste site I used to work at.
I wouldn't worry about the third eye or the men in black suits.
Unless you were following the train the authorities most likely wouldn't be concerned and as stated due to the amount of shielding to be within NRC transportation guidelines you didn't receive any dose from it.
I have helped prep and QC the smaller casks for shipment to be loaded and I would have to say they are pretty much indestructible.

[88gta350]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SteamerFan

Secondaly, if this was truely a train carrying spent fuel rods or other such waste, the person who took the pictures would have been pounced on fairly soon (who do you think would ride in that caboose?) local police would have been on him in a flash, the photo's would have been confiscated (national security) and he would have been directed not to discuss the route of such a train.

This is untrue. Spent fuel shipments are shipped with very little security, if any. It's not like someone can just come along and walk off with the thing. It's designed so that even in a serious derailment or accident, or a sabotage event of some type, the cask would still be secure. There really isn't any need for security on these things. There's likely to be someone with it/following it, but the MIB are not going to pounce on you for taking pictures. Something odd like that rolls through town, they know people are going to come see.

Incidentally, brand new fuel rods are sent to plants on the back of standard tractor trailer flatbeds with absolutely no escort at all, just your standard truck driver, and they're placarded RADIOACTIVE for all to see. Of course, until they've had their chain reaction initated in the reactor, they're really not dangerous. You can touch them with your bare hands ad not be affected (someone does, to inspect it for damage when it arrives at the plant. I've seen it done).

[Anonymous]

I've seen photos of a test carried out over here on a cask where they ran an old loco and a few cars into an empty one at approx 100MPH - the cask was barely scratched while the loco was a write-off. That's pretty solid! I'd say that in this part of the world you're more at risk from leftover fallout from Chenobyl than a nuclear fuel transport - there are hill farmers near me who still have to have all their sheep tested for radioactivity before they are allowed to sell them.

The debate about the security angle is interesting - trains carrying the high-level stuff over here have had a couple of modified passenger cars full of armed police attached to the train since about 2001, but they seem ok about photographing the trains - at least, I've not heard of anyone being hassled while doing so. I guess so long as the same faces and vehicles don't appear at every stop or town, they don't take any action.

[Anonymous]

Another thing about the security of the cargo.

The cargo is of the type that who in their right mind is going to want to be messing around with that thing anyway? The type of people who might want to, are also the very same people that are going to stick out like a sore thumb trackside. At least to the local railroaders and railfans.

James.

[Anonymous]

Well, no one has said anything to me about taking the pics(yet). I'm really not worried about it at all. The truck is mine and that's where I park it at. There were no real markings to say of that really stated anything. The ones I did say said something about weight and height. The locos pulling it were UP. Nothing real fancy just the usual I see here.

As far as the security aspect, I really don't care if they don't want me taking pictures of it. If they don't then they should have been smart enought o cover it up with a tarp. If this is a government cargo then that wouldn't be the case.[:D][B)] If there is going to be a problem with me taking the picture, let them come. Then they could take care of the meth dealers around here.[:D]

Jeremy

[Big_Boy_4005]

Well Jeremy, I think you're safe all the way around. No third eye, and no suits pounding on your door.

The bottom line is who would want to take that stuff anyway. It isn't like you could just walk up, unscrew the top, reach in and take some (and live). That stuff is useless for bomb making anyway.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

The bottom line is who would want to take that stuff anyway. It isn't like you could just walk up, unscrew the top, reach in and take some (and live). That stuff is useless for bomb making anyway.

it is useless for conventional bombs, but for dirty bombs it's ideal. and they wouldn't care if they lived or died, they'd just pop the thing open and contaminate a good 100 mile radius.

[88gta350]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SteamerFan

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

The bottom line is who would want to take that stuff anyway. It isn't like you could just walk up, unscrew the top, reach in and take some (and live). That stuff is useless for bomb making anyway.

it is useless for conventional bombs, but for dirty bombs it's ideal. and they wouldn't care if they lived or died, they'd just pop the thing open and contaminate a good 100 mile radius.

there is no "just popping one of those things open". Believe me when I say the nuclear industry doesn't want that kind of publicity, so it goes to great lengths to ensure it doesn't happen.

[Dough]

Speaking of heavy loads, I posted some pics of a heavy elecrical load that came through Georgia a few years ago. Some of you might find it interesting.

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=23444

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by juby4life

Here's some pics of a train that went through towm yesterday. I was told that it might be hauling radioactive waste. It had a Dash 9 and a tunnel motoer for the two containers, the three boxcars and to my surprise a caboose. So is this person correct and I going to sprout an extra eye?[:D]









Jeremy

Only if you visit or move to Mars or the Dark Side of The Moon,