NY State Says We Don't Care That You Own It, Don't Use It.

[Blazeman]

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/short_lines_regionals/news/Union-Tank-Car-to-end-rail-car-storage-in-New-Yorks-Adirondack-Park--53562?

[nkalanaga]

Apparently the railroad doesn't own the tracks, only a "freight easement" to use them.  In that case, the owner, apparently the state, could argue that "storage" is not "freight service", and thus violates the terms of the lease.

Also, the fact that the location is in a protected forest preserve, much of it managed as near wilderness, probably played a part in the decision.  If it had been in a developed area, I doubt that the state would have much of a case.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adirondack_Park

[Blazeman]

Apparently the railroad doesn't own the tracks, only a "freight easement" to use them.  In that case, the owner, apparently the state, could argue that "storage" is not "freight service", and thus violates the terms of the lease.

Iowa Pacific wants NY State to buy back the easement since they can't store cars. Be interesting to see what NY will do. If it goes to court, RR will want federal court, not state and maybe even STB to hear the case that would no doubt still have to be reviewed by a federal court.

I wonder what the freight service market is on that line?  That was the "secret" railroad built in WW2 for a precious metal needed. Post-war, National Lead assumed ownership, later NL Industries. My old employer would get a least a car a day of magnetite in gons from Tahawus  moved D&H-LV-RDG, then D&H-Conrail to our mill at Exton, PA for grinding.

[mu26aeh]

Somewhat misleading statement at the beginning " where tank cars that carry crude oil are being stored.  "  Of course we know that they are being stored empty as they are excess at this point, but the general public thinks they are loaded.  Especially with the placards being displayed.  Same thing happened here in Gettysburg as Pioneer (Gettysburg & Northern) are storing about 80 or empty tank cars in unused sidings.  People in town were worried and expressed concern to the railroad, borough council, and any one else who would listen as to the large amount of loaded fuel tankers in the area and possible sabotage.  This was all because the placards were on the cars, once people were told they were empty, the raucous calmed down.

[C855B]

Apparently keeping placards on empties is SOP. We have a decommissioned quarry nearby where somebody stores idle ethanol cars. All or most are placarded. It's in the middle of nowhere so isn't bugging anyone that I know of.

[nkalanaga]

I don't know about today, but empty hazmat tankers were REQUIRED to be placarded in the 70s and 80s.  Most of the time they'd have an "empty" placard showing what had been in the car, but leaving the original placard on was acceptable.  In order to remove the placard completely, the cars had to be cleaned of all residue.  In the case of "fuel" cars, the fumes are what explodes, so an "empty" car is still a hazard.

[RockGp40]

I don't know about today, but empty hazmat tankers were REQUIRED to be placarded in the 70s and 80s.

Still true to this day.

 I had an interesting car on my railroad recently, a repurposed oil car. Still had the shields on it. I'm curious what percentage have been repurposed.

[nkalanaga]

RockGp40:  Thank you. 

[Blazeman]

This thinking is spreading.

http://benningtonbanner.com/stories/bill-would-increase-regulation-of-rail-car-storage,527949

Cars of propane stockpiled. I think they'd be needed before too long the way it's been going this week. Propane shipper trying not to reprise a situation from a few years earlier when supplies were drained down and none was to be had until cars rolled up from the Gulf. Politicians raised hell about that too (they love to make noise).

Rock and hard place.

[p51]

Typical NIMBY nonsense.
Same people will pee their drawers if the price of gas for their 'soccer-Mom' SUVs goes up a few pennies because nobody can store tank cars in off-peak times for when the production picks up later.
The only hazard I can think of empty petroleum cars is a blast hazard if someone's dumb enough to weld on ne not vented correctly and hits interior vapors. An old WW2 air corps mechanic on B-17s told me from his time in England during WW2, he'd always made sure welding on an airframe near a fuel tank was done with mostly topped-of tanks. Heating up a space adjacent to an empty tank risked igniting vapors which was far more dangerous.
Having once seen a fuel-air bomb (generally referred to as a "Thermobaric weapon") go off once (from a long way off) in the Army, I have a healthy respect for ignited vapors.
The Buncefield incident in England a few years ago had a large fuel tank vent into the atmosphere, then ignited all at once. The explosion was heard as far away as Belgium.
Fuel-air munitions were also used on Iraqi lines at the start of Desert Storm. Advance ground units on the Saudi border called back to higher HQs in a panic, convinced that someone had just dropped a tactical nuke in front of them.

[up1950s]

That park has more buildings in it than one would think , it has towns too . If the Gov didn't like the looks of tank cars he could plant evergreen trees as a natural view blocker , or request the railroad does . 

[Kentuckian]

Typical NIMBY nonsense.
Same people will pee their drawers if the price of gas for their 'soccer-Mom' SUVs goes up a few pennies because nobody can store tank cars in off-peak times for when the production picks up later.
The only hazard I can think of empty petroleum cars is a blast hazard if someone's dumb enough to weld on ne not vented correctly and hits interior vapors. An old WW2 air corps mechanic on B-17s told me from his time in England during WW2, he'd always made sure welding on an airframe near a fuel tank was done with mostly topped-of tanks. Heating up a space adjacent to an empty tank risked igniting vapors which was far more dangerous.
Having once seen a fuel-air bomb (generally referred to as a "Thermobaric weapon") go off once (from a long way off) in the Army, I have a healthy respect for ignited vapors.
The Buncefield incident in England a few years ago had a large fuel tank vent into the atmosphere, then ignited all at once. The explosion was heard as far away as Belgium.
Fuel-air munitions were also used on Iraqi lines at the start of Desert Storm. Advance ground units on the Saudi border called back to higher HQs in a panic, convinced that someone had just dropped a tactical nuke in front of them.

Also, the Japananse carrier Taiho during WW II. https://warisboring.com/the-japanese-carrier-taiho-blew-up-due-to-a-terrible-mistake/