Was on a family vacation last week in Moab, UT. It appears that the UP has a branch line off the old Rio Grande main line that goes down to Moab. There is track that services a potash plant SW of Moab, and also track right near Moab where I observed an interesting "soil" transloading operation. There are "boxes" that are lifted off flat cars (I think) and put on a truck. The truck take the box down a hill maybe 1/3 of a mile, where the boxes are either emptied or filled. I couldn't tell which way the "soil" was going - out or in. Sorry I don't have pics to share. But was wondering - where is this "soil" coming from or being taken too?
Thx,
Mark
Looks like a superfund cleanup site for Uranium Mill Tailings.
https://www.energy.gov/em/articles/moab-umtra-project-doubles-weekly-train-shipments
Some of it is yellowcake and come of it is spoils from the Atlas/ M-K mill adjacent to the Cane Creek Branch. Not fun country to work in in the winter months.
Looks like it could become impassible from snow accumulation.
Rdamon,
I think you nailed it. I had a hunch that was going on, but like I said, couldn't tell which way the soil was going.
Another interesting find. I looked some more today at the area in google maps. We rode our tandem bike on that highway 279 to the end (last week), which is where the potash plant was. I was expecting to see a railroad Y somewhere - one track going to the potash plant and one going to this soil site. But it is a single line. The soil train stops just shy of a tunnel, which looks to be maybe a mile long or so. After the tunnel, the line continues on to the potash plant. There were maybe 10-15 rail cars parked at the plant. I don't believe the potash is shipped out by trucks, only rail.
https://www.grandcountyutah.net/257/Moab-UMTRA-Project
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