BTW: also check out how many natural gas pipeline explosions there have been, just start with Texas, and think about where to put the “keystone” of you energy policy!
“The oil companies won’t replace or upgrade that particular model of rolling stock that tend to crack open like an eggshell unless compelled to do so.”
The trailers of highway trucks hauling propane & natural gas are built under very strict construction standards, and the manufacturers have federal inspectors drop in on them often. These tank trailers also undergo frequent inspections.About ten years ago, on a major highway north of Boston, around 4AM, one of these trucks was cut off by an automobile motorist. The cab jack-knifed, hit the median guard rail, and the cab caught fire. Police arrived and quickly evacuated all people out of two nearby hotels, shut down the highway (both directions) and some very brave firemen extinguished the fire. Despite being banged up, and the cab burned totally, that tank trailer did not leak or burst. I remember this well, because that was my normal commute route, and I saw on the news before I left home what happened and took a alternate route to work. I recall watching the news that evening, as the federal inspectors were there and told the public what I stated above, that these trailers are designed to be strong enough to survive accidents like this.
The RR companies can do the same, if they want to.
Gresch: What carbon balance? Fossil fuel is producing co2 faster than plants can absorb it, while plants are being replaced by urban sprawl and crops modified to produce more fruit and less oxygen-producing leaves. Most corn is being used to make co2 producing ethanol rather than food..Bruce4671: CSX (and Amtrak) may own their rolling stock, but the railroads own the track and an overwhelming percentage of the total rolling stock. They collect on the use of their rails regardless of condition (which is why there are so many derailments of both passenger and freight trains with tragic results), so they don’t bother with track maintenance – the engineer will be blamed anyway, just as airline pilots are, instead of airline maintenance or airliner manufacturers. I haven’t seen a gandy dancer in years.
Zuhlamon: just a note: I raced those old Corvairs- a ‘61 then a ’65, and that up front trunk saved my sister-in-laws life when she ran a light and got hit by a gravel truck.(the gas tank on Corvairs was also out of harm’s way, and not “pinto-like”.)
On a safety note for modern CARS , not tank cars, my wife went off a cliff in my Lotus, and the fact the fiberglass body absorbed the energy by shattering when she hit trees, saved her from serious injury or death. Three guys in an Oldsmobile ran off in the same place several months earlier, and all were killed.
Bruce4671: When you vuew concern as hate, you are the one with problems – or an additional income. My whole mother’s side of the family were involved with the MKT from engineer to General Chairmen of Locomotive Engineers and of Railroad Trainmen. As for gandy dancers, I am in an area still rail dependent (in spite of what they did to Katy). My comment on not seeing the maintenance crews applies to the lack of lights and roadside equipment as well as the work itself. The epidemic of derail accidents indicate you are covering something up. CSX and Amtrak own their rolling stock, as I said in my initial post, but they don’t own the rails, and that is where the problems are – along with the soda can tank cars, which they also don’t own. As Norman Thomas used to say, “I hope when we finally have to buy the railroads, they don’t charge too much.”
Dtroutma almost 10 years ago
Not a problem, so long as it’s someone ELSE’s town on fire!
Dtroutma almost 10 years ago
BTW: also check out how many natural gas pipeline explosions there have been, just start with Texas, and think about where to put the “keystone” of you energy policy!
moosemin almost 10 years ago
“The oil companies won’t replace or upgrade that particular model of rolling stock that tend to crack open like an eggshell unless compelled to do so.”
The trailers of highway trucks hauling propane & natural gas are built under very strict construction standards, and the manufacturers have federal inspectors drop in on them often. These tank trailers also undergo frequent inspections.About ten years ago, on a major highway north of Boston, around 4AM, one of these trucks was cut off by an automobile motorist. The cab jack-knifed, hit the median guard rail, and the cab caught fire. Police arrived and quickly evacuated all people out of two nearby hotels, shut down the highway (both directions) and some very brave firemen extinguished the fire. Despite being banged up, and the cab burned totally, that tank trailer did not leak or burst. I remember this well, because that was my normal commute route, and I saw on the news before I left home what happened and took a alternate route to work. I recall watching the news that evening, as the federal inspectors were there and told the public what I stated above, that these trailers are designed to be strong enough to survive accidents like this.
The RR companies can do the same, if they want to.
hippogriff almost 10 years ago
Gresch: What carbon balance? Fossil fuel is producing co2 faster than plants can absorb it, while plants are being replaced by urban sprawl and crops modified to produce more fruit and less oxygen-producing leaves. Most corn is being used to make co2 producing ethanol rather than food..Bruce4671: CSX (and Amtrak) may own their rolling stock, but the railroads own the track and an overwhelming percentage of the total rolling stock. They collect on the use of their rails regardless of condition (which is why there are so many derailments of both passenger and freight trains with tragic results), so they don’t bother with track maintenance – the engineer will be blamed anyway, just as airline pilots are, instead of airline maintenance or airliner manufacturers. I haven’t seen a gandy dancer in years.
Dtroutma almost 10 years ago
Zuhlamon: just a note: I raced those old Corvairs- a ‘61 then a ’65, and that up front trunk saved my sister-in-laws life when she ran a light and got hit by a gravel truck.(the gas tank on Corvairs was also out of harm’s way, and not “pinto-like”.)
On a safety note for modern CARS , not tank cars, my wife went off a cliff in my Lotus, and the fact the fiberglass body absorbed the energy by shattering when she hit trees, saved her from serious injury or death. Three guys in an Oldsmobile ran off in the same place several months earlier, and all were killed.
hippogriff almost 10 years ago
Bruce4671: When you vuew concern as hate, you are the one with problems – or an additional income. My whole mother’s side of the family were involved with the MKT from engineer to General Chairmen of Locomotive Engineers and of Railroad Trainmen. As for gandy dancers, I am in an area still rail dependent (in spite of what they did to Katy). My comment on not seeing the maintenance crews applies to the lack of lights and roadside equipment as well as the work itself. The epidemic of derail accidents indicate you are covering something up. CSX and Amtrak own their rolling stock, as I said in my initial post, but they don’t own the rails, and that is where the problems are – along with the soda can tank cars, which they also don’t own. As Norman Thomas used to say, “I hope when we finally have to buy the railroads, they don’t charge too much.”
Reality,really? almost 10 years ago
In Order to make an apple pie you need to create the universe. Carl Sagan