Saw a video of a gon unit train on the UP in East Oregon. Gons had what looked like tarps on them. Did not catch what they were hauling. Anyone on here know?
Probably contaminated soil ("dirty dirt") headed for a landfill. I haven't seen full unit trains, but see occasional long blocks here.
Usually, they have hazmat placards on the side.
Northtowne Saw a video of a gon unit train on the UP in East Oregon. Gons had what looked like tarps on them. Did not catch what they were hauling. Anyone on here know?
I don't know about Oregon, but gondola unit trains are fairly common on the UP and BNSF in central Texas. Many of them originate in Burnet, Texas, which is the furthest northwestern point for the Austin & Western. Burnet has 16 active mines that produce a variety of materials.
The power for the trains is supplied by the BNSF and UP. They haul the trains to McNeil, where the trains can go over onto the UP. Or I believe they can go to Giddings, and ultimately to the BNSF.
Rio Grande Valley, CFI,CFII
"Dirty dirt" is often cocooned in a tarp - wrapped up like a burrito.
Tarps over the top tend to be cargos that can fly - ie sand, wood chips, etc, or commodities that can't be subjected to the weather.
I see trash trains on the CSX Chicago Line, but they usually have netting instead of tarps.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
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