CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Union Pacific says its investigation into the disappearance of 30 tons of a chemical from a hopper car earlier this year indicates the material was lost in transit because of a leak during the trip from Cheyenne to California, KGWN-TV reports.
The hopper loaded with ammonium nitrate — used as a fertilizer and as a component in explosives — was empty when it arrived in Saltdale, Calif., near Mojave, two weeks after departing the Dyno Noble explosives plant in Cheyenne on April 12 [see “Hopper car load — chemical used in explosives — disappears …,” Trains News Wire, May 19, 2023]. Because of the explosive application, the incident triggered state and federal investigations.
The railroad now believes the ammonium nitrate dropped in small pellets over the course of the 800-mile trip. UP said in a statement to the station that it has completed its investigation, and that “As we have previously indicated, all the available evidence suggests this was a leak that occurred over the course of transportation from origin to destination.”
The railroad and Dyno Noble both say no criminal activity is suspected, and that there should be no environmental concerns over the release of the material, with UP noting “the fertilizer is designed for ground application and quick soil absorption.”
Ditto Laurence. 2 dang weeks for 800 miles. How in the world can even UP be that bad with customer’s loads? Hey Vena, how do you clean that up storing more locomotives?
That was under the old CEO, it should improve with the new CEO.
Things happen in the real world of railroading. A car of coal unloaded west of Mandan ND and was empty at Mandan.
Ed Burns
NP BN BNSF Clerk from Mpls. MN
Wow. Two weeks to travel from Wyoming to California. Now there is PSR.