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Montana to Publicly Release Oil Train Data Next Week
Okay, release the info but as history, not predictions: after the train terminates is soon enough.
Otherwise, make sense of painting a great big target on a prime target for itinerant saboteur terrorists, domestic or foreign.
And don’t disclose it was a Bakken train, loaded or mty…I imagine the empties, inevitably some gallons of residual crude within, are much more explosive than the loads.
It is NOT proper for Montana authorities to release any information as to train movements or train consists. In this age of terrorism all need to be vigilant of anything or any person being suspicious. During WWII, train movements and lading in railcars were confidential.
Oil loads or oil empties are not the only hazardous material moving via the rails.
I have been retired for 10 years and would not give out any specific information as to a train or railcar move.
Ed Burns
Retired NP-BN-BNSF from Minneapolis.
I am a retired professional railroader from Minneapolis, MN.
There is NO good reason why Montana (and other states) should release information about any shipments moving through, originating, or terminating in that state. One can look at the placards on railcars to determine the commodity in the cars. Any railcar may or may not have a placard, depending on the commodity being shipped. I would be concerned if Montana released information on Class “A” explosives moving through that state. I am not paranoid, but there is always some person who wants to make a statement by blowing up a railcar or sabotaging a part of the rail structure.
In this day and age, all people must be aware of suspicious packages and people who don’t seem to at a site for a legitimate reason.
Don’t forget that during WWII, train and car movements were confidential.
Finally, GCOR Rule 1.27 “Divulging Information” applies in this case.
Even if I was still working, I would not tell outsiders about car and train movements.
I am a retired professional railroader from Minneapolis, MN.
There is NO good reason why Montana (and other states) should release information about any shipments moving through, originating, or terminating in that state. One can look at the placards on railcars to determine the commodity in the cars. Any railcar may or may not have a placard, depending on the commodity being shipped. I would be concerned if Montana released information on Class “A” explosives moving through that state. I am not paranoid, but there is always some person who wants to make a statement by blowing up a railcar or sabotaging a part of the rail structure.
In this day and age, all people must be aware of suspicious packages and people who don’t seem to at a site for a legitimate reason.
Don’t forget that during WWII, train and car movements were confidential.
Finally, GCOR Rule 1.27 “Divulging Information” applies in this case.
Even if I was still working, I would not tell outsiders about car and train movements.
There might be legitimate concern over casual saboteurs. But for anyone serious, gathering information as to where a train is from and where it is going, and intermediate locations is obviously available - just by watching. Bakken trains, going through my town for example, have limited routes.
how can train data be so sensitive? – with tens of thousands of miles of active rails in the country, determined observers can discover patterns of traffic by eyeball. I can, living next to a ten
- train a day Norfolk Southern line for over 30 years.
It’s funny that we have gone from paranoia and arresting Foamers for taking train pictures to now publically letting anyone know what material we are shipping , how much volume , how often and when. I expect to see NIMBYS come out of the wood work and start blocking rails to prevent anything from going through their neighborhood. I fully expect there to be an attack on a train at a vulnerable location and people will blame the railroads.