BNSF Derailment near Sandpoint, ID 5-1-17

[wazzou]

Not to be outdone by the UP in the Pacific NW, the BNSF derailed about 25 cars of corn on the East/West mainline in Sandpoint, ID.
The line should be re-opened late today.

Story linked below.
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/may/01/train-derails-south-of-cocolalla-lake-in-bonner-co/#/8

[Point353]

The local wildlife must be in ecstasy.

[mu26aeh]

The local wildlife must be in ecstasy.

Officials will probably spend millions in clean up costs, stating it's a environmental hazard, and it will get loaded into trash cars and taken to landfill.  Can't have all this unnatural food because local wildlife will get used to it

[jpwisc]

Officials will probably spend millions in clean up costs, stating it's a environmental hazard, and it will get loaded into trash cars and taken to landfill.  Can't have all this unnatural food because local wildlife will get used to it

No way! It's Idaho, they'll probably set up hunting stands around the perimeter and have a field day!

[jagged ben]

Yes, well, what would happen is an explosion in the population of whatever quick-breeding species get to that grain the easiest, followed by a big die-off of same.  The hunting item sounds good but I'm doubtful those species will be the game worth hunting.  Probably mice and small birds.

[nkalanaga]

A bigger problem with spilled grain is that it gets wet, ferments, and attracts bears.  They had (still have?) a dedicated cleanup crew on Marias Pass to clear any spilled grain before the grizzlies get to it.  Drunk bears and trains, or crews, don't mix.

[basementcalling]

A bigger problem with spilled grain is that it gets wet, ferments, and attracts bears.  They had (still have?) a dedicated cleanup crew on Marias Pass to clear any spilled grain before the grizzlies get to it.  Drunk bears and trains, or crews, don't mix.

Does the bear win a confrontation with an SD70ace?  Do crews need grizzly proof North American cabs?

[C855B]

No, the bears present a hazard for crews in the instances they have to stop the train and inspect for a failure. You don't want 'em hanging around the tracks like big, grouchy, ugly railfans.   

[basementcalling]

No, the bears present a hazard for crews in the instances they have to stop the train and inspect for a failure. You don't want 'em hanging around the tracks like big, grouchy, ugly railfans.   

That makes too much sense, but I figured the grizzlies would all be hanging out by the schools to pick off the unprotected students at recess.   

[Missaberoad]

A bigger problem with spilled grain is that it gets wet, ferments, and attracts bears.  They had (still have?) a dedicated cleanup crew on Marias Pass to clear any spilled grain before the grizzlies get to it.  Drunk bears and trains, or crews, don't mix.

CP has this problem aswell, we have "grain vacuums" that clean the tracks in the parks to keep the bears away from the tracks... (to protect both crews and bears)

No, the bears present a hazard for crews in the instances they have to stop the train and inspect for a failure. You don't want 'em hanging around the tracks like big, grouchy, ugly railfans.   

Absolutely, in fact Laggan sub crews are exempt from performing passing train inspections in "bear country". I imagine more then one conductor inspecting his own train has wound up on top of a grain car or inside a gondola faster then you can say hey Yogi 

[jagged ben]

That makes too much sense, but I figured the grizzlies would all be hanging out by the schools to pick off the unprotected students at recess.