DOE said most used nuclear fuel will be transported by rail to Yucca Mountain, Nev. The Caliente rail corridor (319 miles from Caliento Nev. to Yucca Mt was selected. Operations begin 2010. The unique rail cars contain steel-lead-steel layers, an impact limiter and fuel assemblies. Resembles a tank atop a flatcar with a sturdy frame to prevent it rolling off. After arriving in Yucca, the fuels will be moved by electric rail to the repository, 1,000-ft underground. I’ve seen photos of the underground RR & it appears to be narrower in gauge, thus transshipment from standard to narrow gauge, but I might be wrong on the gauge difference.
DOE estimates 175 rail/truck shipments per year, 85% and 15% respectively. The trains will be heavily guarded and routes won’t be publicized. Satellites will track shipments. For every ton of fuel, the containers will have about four tons of protective shielding.
Since 1964, over 3,000 shipments of nuclear fuel have crossed the US with no injury.
Well, as long as they don’t go through my back yard, I guess it is OK. I’m not worried about radiation leaks, but I don’t want the light disturbing my sleep. LOL.
(Please note, I believe that the the public fear of nuclear power is totally irrational.)
N I M B Y !
Which is why they won’t tell anyone where they’re going (other than to Yucca). I agree with Jay - if those folks had a NAERG, they’d be several shades of pale over what’s going down the highway in front of them…
See these go by on highway trailers (up to 3 per semi-trailer) on I-25 here all the time. Have seen the testing at Pueblo AAR/TC out on the back end of the FAST track loop. I agree with TREE and would add that the trucks are threatened more than the railcar shipments by NIMBY motorists who don’t know how to drive.
Having dealt with the kooks who tried to stop shipment of plutonium triggers going from Pantex to Hanford in the '80’s, it’s a good thing that the shipments are un-announced and that the routes are multiple. Don’t agree that every movement requires notifying the local political government units either, they can be the worst kind of unimformed NIMBY there is.
Do you have a ref. or link for a map of the rail route? I have seen this subject come up from time to time but didn’t realize they got approval to build the route.
I understand about not publicizing the routes the trains will travel, but they sure are limited for those final couple-hundred miles!
well most of the nimbys are worried. stuff that is hauled in most railcars is protected and not a big deal. they raised a big stink when csx hauled an old reactor from toledo to sc.we do need to use other fuel sources to cut dependance on the arab oil.
stay safe
Joe
As Three Mile Island IS in my backyard, I have a few comments.
GET THE SPENT WASTE OUTTA HERE!!!
That stuff is just sitting around in a pool. Not needed to be around the public. The reactor containment dome is HEAVILY protected from storms, airplanes, random things that could go wrong, ect. Not true about the spent waste.
It is around all of us anyway, lets let it be around us a little bit more, but on the move.
No, I don’t. I see a lot of news items of this type on a daily basis as editor of “The Military Engineer” magazine. I got the info from an energy pamphlet.
I got “Train Man” as a gift also and actually liked it. One part was a bit amusing, where he mentioned the railroads have incredible lobbying clout in Washington, DC. (They do? They sure keep that well hidden). Also the references to Harry Ladd’s Traffic Density Atlas were a kick (reference to a Categrory 7 heavy duty line)
Yes it will be marked radio active. or at least it should. and dont get your hopes up to high. there will be a train thru there someday but that would be the logical routing and we all know railroads and goverment dont do the logical. this is to keep the public guessing. we have 1 train that has waste in it most people dont even know its there.