In a half page article The New York Times yesterday, January 26, reports the "surge" in accidents on trains carrying oil. According to The Times "The number of gallons spilled in the United States in the last year, federal records show, far outpaced the total amount spilled by railroads from 1975 to 2012." While this information will not surprise Trains Magazine readers what is important is the fact that seeing it in my newspaper suggests many more people are or will be aware of freight trains that carry oil than have been.
The problem is rooted in the fact that existing pipelines are inadequate to carry the new domestic oil and that not only are environmental groups strongly opposed to any new pipeline but also the sheer physical size of an oil pipeline is attraction new members to environmental groups.
Where will all of this go? On the one hand carrying a lot more oil certainly offers the possibility of a lot more profits for railroad companies. On the other hand the public awareness and even public outcry may result in more and costly government regulation.
The report comes from Casselton, North Dakota, a place where there was "a fiery rail accident last month only a half mile down the tracks." I never heard of Casselton before I read my morning paper but I suspect I'll be hearing more about it in the future.
Every day for the last two weeks has had a major story about oil by rail. The currently seem to be demonizing not the oil, but the industry and regulators for not replacing the DOT-111As that are more vulnerable.
(Yes, I know that the railroads don't own the cars, and can't refuse them while they are still FRA legal.)
One headline was along the lines of "More oil was spilled in 2013 then 1975-2012".
The mayor had a local story showing tank cars going through the city...in a manifest with ADM logos on the side. Because of the uproar about the Gateway Pacific Terminal, railroads have been big in the public eye here.
Hysteria never lets itself get confused by facts.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
This subject is being discussed on NPR on the Diane Rheems show. The president of the AAR is on right now. 11:30 AM CDT
"You never want a serious crisis to go to waste."
Rahm Emanuel quote.
"The mass media will find a way to exploit anything."
Norm
NOT a train derailment!
http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2014/01/26/dnt-canadian-pipeline-explosion.cbc&hpt=hp_t3&from_homepage=yes&video_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F#/video/us/2014/01/26/dnt-canadian-pipeline-explosion.cbc
Seems that the old adage about Newspapers,and the fact that "... Bad News sells papers..." Is still true.
In recent days th local fish wrapper has been helping out as well...Seems that the stories from the NYTimes seem to find attribution, even this far out n" Fly-over" land.
Stories about " dangerous tank cars', and the derailment in N.D. seem to be center stage of late.. Seems to be the stock and trade of late, pile on rater than investigate and don even talk about the 'numbers' and how those work out.
Ah oil trains, the "Saturday Night Specials" for the New Millenium.
NorthWest The mayor had a local story showing tank cars going through the city...in a manifest with ADM logos on the side. Because of the uproar about the Gateway Pacific Terminal, railroads have been big in the public eye here.
Neither the mayor nor the general public knows that those ADM cars are loaded with corn oil from their Decatur plant. Corn oil isn't an explosive or hazardous commodity but who cares - any and all tank cars are bad in the eyes of the public right.
Mark
CAN SOMEONE PLEASE WRITE CHICAGO'S MAYOR AND TELL HIM?
I will write him from here and tell him, but the mail won't delliver until two weeks or so, even airmail, unless I am lucky.
KCSfanNeither the mayor nor the general public knows that those ADM cars are loaded with corn oil from their Decatur plant. Corn oil isn't an explosive or hazardous commodity but who cares - any and all tank cars are bad in the eyes of the public right.
Very true, I couldn't stop laughing.
KCSfan NorthWest The mayor had a local story showing tank cars going through the city...in a manifest with ADM logos on the side. Because of the uproar about the Gateway Pacific Terminal, railroads have been big in the public eye here. Neither the mayor nor the general public knows that those ADM cars are loaded with corn oil from their Decatur plant. Corn oil isn't an explosive or hazardous commodity but who cares - any and all tank cars are bad in the eyes of the public right. Mark
In addition to non hazardous oils or syrups made from corn or beans, ADM also ships alcohol in their own fleet of tank cars.
Jeff
Regardless of how folks see the tank car dangers and other issues of conflict with communities, it seems clear that the railroads need to have some top notch PR folks able to take a proactive, honest and cooperative stance in dealing with the media and the general public. Blaming the media, greens, cities, politicians, alleged conspiracies, NIMBY's and the general public is not going to help the railroads.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
schlimmit seems clear that the railroads need to have some top notch PR folks able to take a proactive, honest and cooperative stance in dealing with the media and the general public.
Frankly, Schlimm, PR has not necessarily been the railroads' strongest point. Yet if we cold make some real positive safety improvements.that, along with the opposition to pipelines, could really help our freight railroads.
John
do not let reality be confused with the news and what feads big media!!
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