----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- K.P.’s absolute “theorem” from early, early childhood that he has seen over and over and over again: Those that CAUSE a problem in the first place will act the most violently if questioned or exposed.
K. P. Harrier wrote:How and why did this incident become widely known?
Well, it was in the news.
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...
tree68 wrote: K. P. Harrier wrote:How and why did this incident become widely known?Well, it was in the news.
It was very much in the news when it happened, both locally and nationally. What burns my bearings is that of the plethora of pundits who were doing their best to stir up the NIMBYs, then and now, NOT ONE mentioned the virtual nose-to-tail stream of placarded 18-wheelers running parallel to the UP (and only a few hundred yards away) on I-15 through downtown and 'tourist' Las Vegas. As a local, an impartial observer and a former disaster control specialist (USAF) I consider THAT to be a far greater danger than anything the UP is likely to get involved in.
Incidentally, somebody caught the runaway on video while it was doing its solo roll. I think they picked the worst of the available 911 tapes to broadcast. Managed news, anyone?
Chuck (Clark County resident)
Yes, it was in the news, about a year ago. Did something else occur to make the timing of this release critical, or is somebody just trolling the public again?
UP has put some operating rule changes in place that directly affect the handling of chlorine and other "inhalation hazard" tank cars. They're system-wide--I know that, because we've run up against events that are handled differently now than they would have been last year. New tank car specifications are in the works. UP is helping with those, but I don't think it's tied in directly with this incident.
And Tomikawa's right--the upshot of this whole thing is that, although plenty could have happened, nothing did happen. So if one says that nothing happens with all of those trucks on the Interstate, think about what could happen, due either to fatigue, human error, weather conditions, or maybe just a simple bending of a speed limit (which is kind of bent already in Nevada!).
Should Vegas offer odds on who will have the next disaster?
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
tomikawaTT wrote: Local TV news just ran a short piece on the runaway. A year after the fact, they finally released the 911 call tape. Sounds like, "Chicken Little Meets The Keystone Kops!"(portion of post omitted)For her part, the 911 op was just as confused. I don't think she had any idea of where the railroad is located. She definitely wasn't getting the idea that some kind of emergency response would be appropriate. I will grant that she was calmer and more professional, but she didn't have any idea of what questions to ask.
Local TV news just ran a short piece on the runaway. A year after the fact, they finally released the 911 call tape. Sounds like, "Chicken Little Meets The Keystone Kops!"
(portion of post omitted)
For her part, the 911 op was just as confused. I don't think she had any idea of where the railroad is located. She definitely wasn't getting the idea that some kind of emergency response would be appropriate. I will grant that she was calmer and more professional, but she didn't have any idea of what questions to ask.
When this happened, the UP announced a series of measures, both for this yard and for other yards, to prevent recurrence. From the posts above, it sounds like those measures have been implemented, although it wouldn't hurt to seek ground truth to be sure.
One wonders, however, what (if any) corrective measures have been taken by the City or Clark County or whoever is in charge of the emergency system out there. Do the operators have any knowledge regarding the locations of railroads and/or the potential for a hazmat problem?
Just offhand, I would suspect the railroad has been a lot more effective in addressing the shortcomings revealed by the incident.
CShaveRR wrote: Yes, it was in the news, about a year ago. Did something else occur to make the timing of this release critical, or is somebody just trolling the public again?UP has put some operating rule changes in place that directly affect the handling of chlorine and other "inhalation hazard" tank cars. They're system-wide--I know that, because we've run up against events that are handled differently now than they would have been last year. New tank car specifications are in the works. UP is helping with those, but I don't think it's tied in directly with this incident.And Tomikawa's right--the upshot of this whole thing is that, although plenty could have happened, nothing did happen. So if one says that nothing happens with all of those trucks on the Interstate, think about what could happen, due either to fatigue, human error, weather conditions, or maybe just a simple bending of a speed limit (which is kind of bent already in Nevada!).Should Vegas offer odds on who will have the next disaster?
A few years back while we were stationed in San Antonio (I am also originally from that area as well), there was a derailment on the UP that resulted in the release of quite a bit of chlorine gas. I recall that there was at least one death (possibly more) and several injuries that was directly attributed to the chlorine. The authorities came down on the UP really hard, so I know there was some changes that were a direct result of that derailment. Of course the UP's history in San Antonio (especially after the Espee takeover) has been really rough.
The media in San Antonio, it seems, has played a large role in the public's negative perception of the UP. If somebody in East Yard sneezes the wrong way, they are all over it.
Back in the 60's half of Vegas was already gassed, especially Dean Martin. That is nasty stuff, I have a friend who works at the local water plant, and this chemical is not to be trifled with. As for Harry Reid, the gas he spreads is more lethal than Chlorine.
Union Pacific workers threw wood boards under the tires to stop the car.
Did anyone notice the above in the article. Para 5 last sentence.
Your right what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. At least the car did not go anywhere else. Like California.(yes I know wrong way)
By the way who's was the receiver of the errant car?
Thx IGN
igoldberg wrote:I wish Senator Harry Reed would stick a sock in his mouth.
What a terrible fate for a poor, innocent sock.
From the various posts above, it's obvious that UP has gone a long way in addressing the identified problems (including parking 'anchor' cars in the Henderson yard.) OTOH, the local news channel had to come up with something/anything to distract people from mass mortgage foreclosures, slack tourism and a soft economy. Who better to kick than the one entity in town that almost nobody knows anything about?
Hate to admit it, but I am thunderously underimpressed with the reporting of this incident a year later, as if nothing had changed in the meantime.
HazMat Experts and Firefighters petition Dow Chemical and Union Pacific for safe rail tank cars transporting gas chlorine. Secondary containment is a necessary improvement that must be implemented. See--PETITION C KIT for First Responders Comments.
2nd time you posted this.
Shall I assume you have some vested interest in this?
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
Something that wasn't widely publicized about the Graniteville incident is that the engineer, who was being carried to safety by the conductor, possibly could have been saved. A man, who was labeled a hero by the media, drove his vehicle close enough that he could speak to the conductor and then just drove off. Didn't offer to drive the guys to safety. The engineer died but the conductor survived with badly "burned" lungs.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.