Trains.com

"Bomb Trains" threaten America's safety, according to report

4493 views
40 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,015 posts
Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 5:30 PM

Norm48327
...perhaps Tree 68 remembers it.

The Dow "death train."  Which did, in fact, derail between Highland and Milford, although I don't remember the date.  I don't recall that there was anything spilled, however.

It ran on the CSX Saginaw Sub from the thumb down through Plymouth and on to Toledo and points south, I believe.

We used to get the "acid train" through this area - it was a real witch's brew, too.  Not a lot of hubbub, and never an incident that I know of.  I believe it takes another route now, if it runs at all.

LarryWhistling
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...

  • Member since
    April 2011
  • 649 posts
Posted by LensCapOn on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 5:20 PM

Wait, the "BOMB! TRAINS!" are oil trains?

I thought they were grain trains.

Have you ever seen the "after" photo of a grain elevator explosion? If a whole 100 car grain train went at once Hiroshima would look like a Bic.

 

 

(Snark?  Me?)

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 9,610 posts
Posted by schlimm on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 4:41 PM

Norm48327

The media panning these trains is nothing new. In the sixties, Dow Chemical ran a dedicated train on C&O carrying [who know what] chemicals through the suburbs of southeatern Michigan presumably on it's way to the Gulf Coast. There was considerable hubub in the press and on TV about it. They had people scared out of their wits worrying about a major chemical spill that never happened. A search turned up nothing but perhaps Tree 68 remembers it.

 

I don't recall that false alarm.  I recall quite well the real N&W Decatur crash of 1974.  A real bomb train.

http://herald-review.com/news/local/memories-still-strong-of-rail-explosion/article_32579a2e-1399-5b9a-b6ce-bd68efb5fa68.html

Bunk house where seven railroaders were killed.

1974 Norfolk & Western Railway Co. Explosion 3

1974 Norfolk & Western Railway Co. Explosion 1

1974 Norfolk & Western Railway Co. Explosion 5

 

 

C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 9,610 posts
Posted by schlimm on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 4:36 PM

tomikawaTT

 

 
schlimm

 

 
tomikawaTT
all we need is a couple of dump trucks and a front end loader to remove this pile of bovine excrement.

 

Gee, that's really impressive reasoning!

 

 

 
So, how do you suggest removing it?  Diverting the River Styx would be something of an overkill.
 
Or do you actually approve of this kind of fearmongering?
 
Chuck (retired USAF Disaster Control responder)
 

No, I already said I do not like fear-mongering and exaggerations, whoever does so.   I just don't like posts that rely on silly euphemisms for vulgar slang.

C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Southeast Michigan
  • 2,983 posts
Posted by Norm48327 on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 3:49 PM

The media panning these trains is nothing new. In the sixties, Dow Chemical ran a dedicated train on C&O carrying [who know what] chemicals through the suburbs of southeatern Michigan presumably on it's way to the Gulf Coast. There was considerable hubub in the press and on TV about it. They had people scared out of their wits worrying about a major chemical spill that never happened. A search turned up nothing but perhaps Tree 68 remembers it.

Norm


  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 3:04 PM

blue streak 1

The only bomb train to worry about is a DOD.  Remember Roseville.

But that was real ordinance!

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Southwest US
  • 12,914 posts
Posted by tomikawaTT on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 2:29 PM

schlimm

 

 
tomikawaTT
all we need is a couple of dump trucks and a front end loader to remove this pile of bovine excrement.

 

Gee, that's really impressive reasoning!

 
So, how do you suggest removing it?  Diverting the River Styx would be something of an overkill.
 
Or do you actually approve of this kind of fearmongering?
 
Chuck (retired USAF Disaster Control responder)
  • Member since
    September 2014
  • 30 posts
Posted by JOSEPH RENNER on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 2:18 PM
They mentioned that " oil trains increase risk of cancer" Doesn't everything nowadays? I think driving is more dangerous than oil trains
  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, December 14, 2015 6:48 PM

The only bomb train to worry about is a DOD.  Remember Roseville.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 9,610 posts
Posted by schlimm on Monday, December 14, 2015 6:24 PM

tomikawaTT
all we need is a couple of dump trucks and a front end loader to remove this pile of bovine excrement.

Gee, that's really impressive reasoning!

C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Southwest US
  • 12,914 posts
Posted by tomikawaTT on Monday, December 14, 2015 3:18 PM

Right at the bottom of the article it tells you that the author is an anti-fracking activist.  Her agenda is obvious.

One of the best ways to generate fear in the uninformed is to wildly exaggerate the probability of some bad event, then claim that the responsible parties are ignoring things that the general public will never be able to check.

I, personally, have been within a couple of feet of enough megatons to make Moscow (or any other city) a memory.  So...

I was also near neighbor to a couple of one tankcar load LPG BLEVE.  The fire evacuation radius was one mile.  The actual damage zone was about 100 yards, max, from the blowout point.  Since some of my Air Force duties involved disaster control, I have a professional interest in such matters.

So now all we need is a couple of dump trucks and a front end loader to remove this pile of bovine excrement.

Chuck (semi-professional skeptic)

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 9,610 posts
Posted by schlimm on Monday, December 14, 2015 10:59 AM

True.  There is too much of that on right and left, whether about climate or other issues.

C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Southeast Michigan
  • 2,983 posts
Posted by Norm48327 on Monday, December 14, 2015 10:49 AM

schlimm
Reasoned dialogue is, unfortunately, in short supply these days.

Especially when those on the left keep saying "our way or no way".

Norm


  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 9,610 posts
Posted by schlimm on Monday, December 14, 2015 10:37 AM

The article engages in fear-mongering and some unneeded exaggerations.  However, there are many incontrovertible facts, which exaggerated ridicule does nothing to contradict.  Reasoned dialogue is, unfortunately, in short supply these days.

C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan

  • Member since
    January 2014
  • 8,217 posts
Posted by Euclid on Monday, December 14, 2015 8:53 AM
They may be fearmongering, but it has a larger purpose than just the satisfaction of spreading alarm.  They strongly oppose the use of oil.  So criticizing oil trains is made to order for them. 
 
They were loud and strong in warning of the dire consequences of oil trains wrecking and killing people as soon as oil trains ramped up for Bakken.  We had a thread on it here quoting from those groups just a couple days prior to the Lac Megantic wreck.  They must have felt a great sense of validation from the Lac Megantic wreck.   But their ultimate concern is not the safety of people and water.  It is about the safety of the climate.  It is about carbon dioxide.
 
For more perspective, here is the Dot-111 Reader:

http://dot111.info/

  • Member since
    November 2014
  • 250 posts
Posted by ORNHOO on Monday, December 14, 2015 12:15 AM
More on that "Bomb Truck" in Portland: www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2015/12/firefighters_battling_large_in.html#incart_big_photo
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Sunny (mostly) San Diego
  • 1,920 posts
Posted by ChuckCobleigh on Sunday, December 13, 2015 11:13 PM

Chicken Little was unavailable for comment.Crying

  • Member since
    November 2006
  • From: NW Pa Snow-belt.
  • 2,216 posts
Posted by ricktrains4824 on Sunday, December 13, 2015 10:26 PM

I'm more concerned about the idiot truck drivers right outside my house.... Trains are way safer!

And, I am willing to bet this article is written by the same groundbreaking reporter that pointed out that the latest thing that California has labeled "Known to cause cancer" is being alive.

After all, dead people do not get cancer..... 

Ricky W.

HO scale Proto-freelancer.

My Railroad rules:

1: It's my railroad, my rules.

2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.

3: Any objections, consult above rules.

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • 3,231 posts
Posted by NorthWest on Sunday, December 13, 2015 8:35 PM

The article is curious in that it continually ignores the railroad renesaince. Infrustructure is in the best condition it has been in decades.

Besides the CP incident caused by flooding undermining a bridge, I can't think of any bridge-caused incidents involving flamable liquids.

They lose all credability when they claim that the bridge the FRA auditor inspected was still unsafe.

Meanwhile in Australia, the Hawkesbury River Bridge pier still hasn't been fixed...

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, December 13, 2015 7:54 PM

BaltACD

What about all those BOMB TRUCKS that drive by most people's houses, driven by log book faking drivers that are barely awake at the wheel popping Amphetamines like they are candy.

 

http://news.yahoo.com/deadly-truck-crash-causes-smoky-portland-railroad-yard-194507867.html

 

Bomb truck endangers railroad tankers.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Central Iowa
  • 6,900 posts
Posted by jeffhergert on Sunday, December 13, 2015 7:14 PM

I just glanced at it, but it seems to me to be a report from a biased news media outlet using observations from biased organizations having the same agenda.  After getting that impression, I stopped reading. 

Btw, we sometimes call the loaded ethanol trains, "rolling bombs" at work.  I just had one last trip out.

Jeff

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: MP CF161.6 NS's New Castle District in NE Indiana
  • 2,148 posts
Posted by rrnut282 on Sunday, December 13, 2015 6:59 PM

Semper Vaporo
Don't forget that for most Americans, cities and other municipalities pump Di-Hydrogen MonOxide directly into their homes!  People DIE if they breath this stuff!

Don't worry, the vigilant politicians in Kalifornication tried to enact legislation to protect their citizens from that "bad chemical".    Hooray we're saved!  lol

Mike (2-8-2)
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: MP CF161.6 NS's New Castle District in NE Indiana
  • 2,148 posts
Posted by rrnut282 on Sunday, December 13, 2015 6:55 PM

Cars kill more people in a year than guns, train wrecks, and pipeline disasters in their lifetimes (almost combined).  Yet the roar from the fear mongerers to ban cars  is deafening. 

Mike (2-8-2)
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, December 13, 2015 6:52 PM

n012944

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Run for the hills.....

sigh.

Watch out for dihydrogen monoxide poisoning!

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Sunday, December 13, 2015 6:38 PM

I don't know which is worse, that or Hydro-oxic acid. I believe that hydrogen hydroxide is just as bad. Perhaps our investigative journalists should look into this matter also?

Johnny

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Sunday, December 13, 2015 6:36 PM

BaltACD

What about all those BOMB TRUCKS that drive by most people's houses, driven by log book faking drivers that are barely awake at the wheel popping Amphetamines like they are candy.

 

What? Like the suicide fuel trucker that attacked the Portland and Western today in Portland, OR? Gee downplay that, doesn't fit the warped agenda.

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Fountain Valley, CA, USA
  • 607 posts
Posted by garyla on Sunday, December 13, 2015 6:35 PM

CShaveRR


More journalistic fear-mongering. 

Indeed.

As you read the article, you can almost hear the author hyperventilating!

If I ever met a train I didn't like, I can't remember when it happened!
  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Iowa
  • 3,293 posts
Posted by Semper Vaporo on Sunday, December 13, 2015 6:32 PM

Don't forget that for most Americans, cities and other municipalities pump Di-Hydrogen MonOxide directly into their homes!  People DIE if they breath this stuff!

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: S.E. South Dakota
  • 13,569 posts
Posted by Murphy Siding on Sunday, December 13, 2015 6:21 PM

        If eel like this quote from the article pretty much suggets that most of the article is not to be taken as serious, intelligent journalism.

"While Riverkeeper inspectors may not be engineers, the railroad owners inspecting their own bridges may not be much better."

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy